By: TUNDE BOLAJI – MINNA.
There is a strong indication that Niger Tornadoes football club may soon return to Minna city for their home matches as the Nigeria Professional League kicks off for the new season
Chairman of the club, Engr. Ibrahim Dada has therefore assured club supporters and fans that the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium in Minna will host the club’s home matches next season.
The Chairman, who disclosed this when he received the new state executive of SWAN, said it is not his wish, nor that of the management team or players, to play home matches away from home, but is compelled to do so by circumstances beyond the management’s control.
Expressing optimism that fans and football lovers will have no reason to complain anymore, Dada told his guests that, “Bako Kontagora stadium will be ready in the next 3 months, precisely by August.
He hinted that the contractor has assured us that by the next season we will start playing our home matches there, if he is mobilized”.
Plans, he said, are on to reposition the team for better performances, adding that the management has also been able to identify some players that need to be dropped while also negotiating on how to bring in their replacements.
Engineer Dada congratulated the new state SWAN executive and pledged to support them in their plans and programmes for the overall interest of sports generally, and football in particular.
The Chairman recalled sad experiences playing home matches outside home and its attendant consequences on both the management and the players. The movements became more of a distraction for the team, causing them to slide further down from their 7th position on the league table.
The chairman, who expressed appreciation to SWAN for being a good partner in progress, said the players who are currently on holiday are expected to resume training in Minna on July 6th, while the league is expected to resume tentatively by August 22-23.
Niger state SWAN chairman, Alhassan Mohammed Kutigi had earlier told the Tornadoes Chairman that they were in his office to present the new executive and to seek areas of mutual benefits for both parties.
Kutigi expressed appreciation to the Niger Tornadoes boss for warm welcome, said SWAN, a professional body is ready to partner with Niger Tornadoes and others key stakeholders to ensure the growth and development of different sporting activities.
