RUSSIA 2018: Buhari gives Dalung minimum target

Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung has revealed to newsmen that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered sports administrators in the country to ensure that the Super Eagles are not mere spectators at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The Minister disclosed this to State House correspondents after briefing the President on the progress recorded by the country in sporting activities in 2017.

He said that President Buhari encouraged him to sustain the tempo of the successes recorded in the previous year especially ahead of the World Cup in Russia.

“He (Buhari) challenged me to ensure that Nigeria does not go to Russia a mere spectator,” Dalung said.

“Of course I also informed him that part of the measures we have taken to address some of the challenges is to ensure that by March all the players are paid their match training and camp allowances upfront but for the bonuses is in terms of progression according to performance at the World Cup.”

He continued, “For the World Cup, apart from the friendlies we have now, I think we have lined up so many friendlies to play with countries participating in the World Cup, top ranking countries that did not make the World Cup, so as to strengthen our preparation.”

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Dalung also mentioned that the N3 billion budget for the World Cup, part of which would be footed by the government, has been declared and included in the 2018 national budget, and as soon as the budget is released, the funding to enhance Eagles’ preparations will follow.

“The budget has been approved but has not been released,” he said.

Concerning other competitions, specifically the forthcoming Commonwealth Games scheduled to hold in Australia, the Minister lamented that the greatest challenge before national athletes was lack of training facilities.

He said, “I briefed him (Buhari) about our plans for 2018 because it is a sports year right from February to August, there is no dull moment. From CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) to African Youth Champion in wrestling taking place in Port Harcourt, to Commonwealth Games scheduled for Gold Cost, Queensland. Australia, between 4th and 15th April 2018, to Basketball, the World Cup in June and the African Championship of the Athletics Federation In Asaba.

“The challenge basically has been lack of training facilities. As we all know training facilities has to do with infrastructural deficit in sports because of long time neglect.

“We need the support of the president as usual and funding as it is required to enable our teams succeed.”

The 2018 FIFA World Cup begins in June while the Commonwealth Games will take place in April.

 

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