International Football
SPORTS MINISTER INSISTS THAT DECAYING NIGERIAN STADIUM FACILITIES WOULD BE FIXED
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria’s sports minister has once again reaffirmed that the National Stadium in Lagos and other Federal Government owned sports facilities that are in state of disrepairs would be fixed.
The minister, who will clock a month in office on Saturday, restated that the Federal Government had the political will to upgrade stadiums across the country.
This is contained in a press release obtained by www.sportsvillagesquare.com. Hasiya Haruna, an information officer in the Ministry of Youth and Sport Development, signed the press statement.
Last weekend, he visited the once iconic National Stadium Lagos. That was after similar working visits to the dilapidated Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja and the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna where promises of upgrading were made.
Sports Village Square notes that the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan is yet to be visited. The arena, previously called the Liberty Stadium was the first modern stadium in West Africa. At a time, it boasted of having the best playing pitch in Africa as matches could be played there, even under torrential rainfall, as the pitch would never be waterlogged.
It hosted the Group B matches of the 1973 African Games as well as that of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations. It was one of the venues for the 1999 FIFA U 20 championship. In the 1960s, it was the choice ground for national team matches.
It last hosted Nigeria’s national team on July 9, 1983 when Nigeria beat Togo 2-1 in an Olympic Games qualifier. The last major football match played at the stadium was 20 years ago when Shooting Stars lost at home to Egypt’s Al Ahly in the continental premier clubs competition.
As regards the decaying state of the National Stadium, Surulere, the Nigerian Sports Minister assured that the Ministry will consult and sit with experts and stakeholders, including Auditors to work out best options.
He promised to put in motion a process of refurbishing the edifice which he said is central to bringing back the culture of sports, which will require political will, and synergy of various levels of Federal Government, States and Local Governments working together and most importantly a large dose of participation by the private sector.
Similarly, Mr Sunday Dare has also visited the MKO National Stadium Abuja, Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna as well as inspecting other stadiums. He said that Government is ready to upgrade , manage and maintain these facilities to it’s optimal working condition that will attract a huge number of Youths involving themselves in different sporting activities, thereby diverting their minds and attention from vices.
The Minister said this would be one of the several inspections that will be done on the facilities; reports and audits will be done before the actual renovation. He said that Government is determined to build the capacity and good virtues of our Youths through the standard upgrade of these Stadia to enhance and ensure relative peace and security in Nigeria.
As the saying goes, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop” but when these youths are positively engaged in one sporting game or the other in these standard and well equipped Stadia, they will become good citizens of the Nigerian society.
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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