By Ugochukwu Thanos Ifeanyi
When the news of the FIFA confirmation that Nigeria will host the U20 FIFA Women World Cup 2020 dropped, it sounded like music to my ears as it is the sort of news I yearn for always
Well, I am sure by now we have heard that South East didn’t get any slot to host such an illustrious global event, which is heart rending as yet again, South East misses out on such a huge money spinner, not just for the hosts but the immediate community and region in general
Football is the largest enabler of tourism and triggers employment both directly and indirectly from hospitality to tourism as well as consumption of local products eg. Food, arts and craft even shows
Let’s not forget that these teams and their fans, will inject millions of dollars in Nigeria for the duration of this event and not a single cent will be spent in the South East. The nearest the South East can get to it, will be to travel to Asaba and dash money to Delta State or Akwa Ibom and Edo States, which means we will spend our own hard earned monies to enjoy the mundial, when these states are raking in hundreds of millions naira from the dollars coming in http://www.bellsnews.com/sports/we-are-true-fans-our-game-is-fair-play/
How Did This Happen?
FIFA has specific guidelines as regards international matches which include, avoiding artificial turfs. This is why stadia like the Abia State, Enugu and Imo State stadia were disqualified automatically, Ebonyi State has no stadium yet (I advise Umahi to build a Natural turf stadium) leaving only Anambra State with the only viable stadium and last hope of the South East to grab the slot
Despite hosting a few CAF matches, the Anambra State stadium sadly, doesn’t have some infrastructure needed to host a FIFA event at the moment but it is not enough excuse as that can be done in time for the mundial because, for the fact it is accredited by CAF means it is about 90% ready for FIFA events, showing it just needs minor additions to make it fit to host one
The rejection of the stadium, meant that all hopes of the South East enjoying international football is thrown to the gutters, which indicates a monumental failure on the part of every Sports administrator in the South East up to the State Sports Commissions, Football Associations, Commissioners and Governors
In an era of mass unemployment, when the rest of Nigeria will be reaping the free money through football, the inability of the South East to key in, has cost our region hundreds of thousands of dollars owing to outright incompetence across board from employing those who have no idea what Sports is about, to appointing others who fail to recognise the need to establish stadia of international standards in the State
In Anambra State, I have been calling for the establishment of an international stadium which can easily be done either by partnering to upgrade the Stadium at Nnewi or finishing the stadia in Awka or renovating the stadia at Onitsha. Despite having the solid foundation to establish something worthwhile which would have generated hundreds of millions if not billions of monies for Ndi Anambra and by extension, made some people millionaires automatically not to mention the IGR that will flow into the Government coffers, the Anambra State Governor has not only scrambled the Ministry of Youth and Sports but has never had a SSA or SA on Sports since he assumed office till date, which is why Anambra State has been lagging behind in Sports and only made worse by having no dedicated Commissioner for Sports
Solution
I had expected administrators like Anyasi-Agwu, Emeka Inyama even Chidi Ofor Okenwa to know better and solicit for natural turfs in their respective States despite sitting on various committees in the NFF and some on CAF, which is a disgrace to be talking about what just happened. I hope they bow their heads in shame and sit up to their duties not just looking out for personal gratification at the expense of the region
The South East region of Nigeria must boast of at least ONE FIFA accredited stadium per State!
The newly built home grounds of Enyimba is installed with artificial turf (which makes me wonder how ambitious Felix Anyasi-Agwu truly is as he should have envisaged such) which means no National match can even be played there…. As for Abia Warriors, I will not waste my precious time on them for now
Enugu State has a responsive Governor who I know would have supported the replacement of the artificial turf with the natural one if he had been clued into the event and the need for it to be done by someone like Chidi Offor Okenwa (Enugu would have made the perfect host based on its centrality, airport and solid infrastructure in the South East)
Opinion
The total disregard and disassociation from Sports especially football in Anambra State by the Government has become embarrassing and has ended up costing us dearly, of which I am very bitter over. If the Government doesn’t want to invest in new structures, then the private clubs already in place must be sponsored to meet such requirements, which will benefit Ndi Anambra across board
We have lost this event but we must not lose subsequent ones, not just Anambra State but the South East in its entirety.. Enough of this nonsense!
All the above doesn’t exonerate Pinnick from his failure to lobby to ensure that Anambra State got the slot, then overseen the upgrade to ensure National equality and integrity as demanded by the rule of law especially when the South South region (his native region) has THREE slots to show for it… Yes the South East made it easier for him to deny us this opportunity by our state of unreadiness, and he chose to exploit that flaw to the fullest in making sure we neither smell the football nor make a cent from it, instead, we pay to experience what others are not only enjoying free of charge but getting rich off.