Nigeria 2009 LOC overstretched FIFA - Jerome
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- Category: Sports
- Written by David Ngobua
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It is no longer news that few hours from now, the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup will commence at the Abuja National Stadium where the host country Nigeria is set to battle Germany in the opening match of the tournament.
What is news however is FIFA Secretary General, Valcke Jerome’s declaration that the Local Organizing Committee, LOC, of the cadet championship indeed overstretched the World Football body which had to go the extra mile in supporting Nigeria to host the tournanment.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the pre-championship press conference at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, the FIFA scribe said for the first time, FIFA did so much work to support and to help a Local Organizing Committee just to ensure that a hitch free championship is staged.
Consequently, he said even if there are unresolved issues, the championship must go on and what is expected now is for all hands to be on deck to achieve a successful tournament.
“This is the first time that FIFA has done so much work to support and help a Local Organizing Committee just to make sure that we succeed. Today we have no choice. We have to succeed. We have to make sure that this tournament will go well not only for Nigeria but for the whole of Africa”.
He said “following the success we have had in Egypt we have to make sure that Africa all together is the continent of football given this year 2009 and 2010. We have put all the strength we have in FIFA to support Nigeria”.
Jerome said in the course of preparing for the 2009 FIFA U-17 championship, there were ups and downs but with the support from FIFA’s Vice-President Mr. Jack Warner and FIFA Executive Committee member, Dr. Amos Adamu, the world football governing body worked day and night to ensure that the championship kicks off today.
“There were up and downs, or let’s say good and bad days between LOC and us, but including Chairman Jack Warner and Dr. Amos Adamu, we have been working day and night to ensure that today we can kick off the tournament”.
He, therefore called for all hands to be on deck for a successful championship.
“Let’s work together. We have few weeks to go together. So let’s make sure that whatever we time we can dedicate to this tournament, we do it to succeed because that is what we have to do for Africa”
On his part, FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner said the championship which begins today faced a lot of challenges but such were tackled to the best of the abilities of the LOC and the football governing body, FIFA.
He said FIFA’s meeting which preceded the press conference considered some of the problems and how to ensure that the remaining challenges being faced by the organizers do not impact negatively on the championship.
Warner cited problems like internet connectivity, insufficient training pitches, and lack of functional computers at some of the centres as challenges which were yet to be overcome by the tournament organizers in some of the centres.
The Vice-President also maintained that FIFA did not make things difficult for Nigeria by deliberating raising its requirements for the championship as he said FIFA standards are always constant and can never be lowered to please anyone.
Furthermore, Warner said had FIFA lowered the standard for Nigeria, it would have become a clear sign that the country is not capable of hosting a world Championship.
Articles
Nigeria 2009 LOC overstretched FIFA - Jerome
Category: Sports Written by David Ngobua Hits: 589
It is no longer news that few hours from now, the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup will commence at the Abuja National Stadium where the host country Nigeria is set to battle Germany in the opening match of the tournament.
What is news however is FIFA Secretary General, Valcke Jerome’s declaration that the Local Organizing Committee, LOC, of the cadet championship indeed overstretched the World Football body which had to go the extra mile in supporting Nigeria to host the tournanment.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the pre-championship press conference at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, the FIFA scribe said for the first time, FIFA did so much work to support and to help a Local Organizing Committee just to ensure that a hitch free championship is staged.
Consequently, he said even if there are unresolved issues, the championship must go on and what is expected now is for all hands to be on deck to achieve a successful tournament.
“This is the first time that FIFA has done so much work to support and help a Local Organizing Committee just to make sure that we succeed. Today we have no choice. We have to succeed. We have to make sure that this tournament will go well not only for Nigeria but for the whole of Africa”.
He said “following the success we have had in Egypt we have to make sure that Africa all together is the continent of football given this year 2009 and 2010. We have put all the strength we have in FIFA to support Nigeria”.
Jerome said in the course of preparing for the 2009 FIFA U-17 championship, there were ups and downs but with the support from FIFA’s Vice-President Mr. Jack Warner and FIFA Executive Committee member, Dr. Amos Adamu, the world football governing body worked day and night to ensure that the championship kicks off today.
“There were up and downs, or let’s say good and bad days between LOC and us, but including Chairman Jack Warner and Dr. Amos Adamu, we have been working day and night to ensure that today we can kick off the tournament”.
He, therefore called for all hands to be on deck for a successful championship.
“Let’s work together. We have few weeks to go together. So let’s make sure that whatever we time we can dedicate to this tournament, we do it to succeed because that is what we have to do for Africa”
On his part, FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner said the championship which begins today faced a lot of challenges but such were tackled to the best of the abilities of the LOC and the football governing body, FIFA.
He said FIFA’s meeting which preceded the press conference considered some of the problems and how to ensure that the remaining challenges being faced by the organizers do not impact negatively on the championship.
Warner cited problems like internet connectivity, insufficient training pitches, and lack of functional computers at some of the centres as challenges which were yet to be overcome by the tournament organizers in some of the centres.
The Vice-President also maintained that FIFA did not make things difficult for Nigeria by deliberating raising its requirements for the championship as he said FIFA standards are always constant and can never be lowered to please anyone.
Furthermore, Warner said had FIFA lowered the standard for Nigeria, it would have become a clear sign that the country is not capable of hosting a world Championship.