The Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola on Monday handed over a giant silver trophy he donated to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for the annual Federation Cup Competition, stating that it represents a small gesture from him to help in re-awakening interest in the tournament in the country.
Mr Fashola who spoke at the Banquet Hall of Lagos House, Ikeja said that his visit to several stadia in the recent past and the fact that such facilities are never filled to capacity has left him wondering on what must be done to help reawaken the love for sports among Nigerians.
He said as far back as 1992, if any match was going to be played at the National Stadium, one must get there by 10am or else, that spectator would not be guaranteed a seat in the stadium adding that concrete steps must be taken to bring people back to matches and other sporting events.
The governor thanked the Nigerian Football Federation for giving Lagos the opportunity to host and also reinforcing the suggestion by the State that the Federation Cup which used to be the Challenge Cup should not leave Lagos again where it started from.
Mr Fashola said the Federation represents a destination and a dream which every player wants to experience adding that even for the English FA Cup, Wembley Stadium irrespective of the part of the country that the player comes from, everyone that his club qualifies for the finals wants to play at Wembley.
He explained that the former Challenge Cup which is now the Federation Cup has a very rich history because it has produced many great players like Muyiwa Oshode, Haruna Ilerika, Yakubu Mambo and Kenneth Olayombo, adding that legends have been made out of the competition that have propelled Nigeria at the international stage.
The governor said that the Lagos State Government is building infrastructure and new sports centres all over the State so as to reawaken interest of the people in watching football, adding that one of such stadiums is hosting a group preliminary of this year’s Federation Cup from today.
The President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari in his address thanked Governor Fashola for his interest in sports, adding that the Federation Cup will indeed not leave Lagos.
He added that the Governor has done a lot to improve sports in the country, stating that on a number of occasions he has hosted and supported many of the national teams including the FUTSAL team and the Beach soccer teams.
Mr Maigari also gave a commitment that the 2012 Federation Cup which is billed to be hosted by Lagos will be the most colourful cup final ever.