Nigeria 2009: AIT facilities impress Warner

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FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner has commended the facilities of Africa Independent Television, describing them as ‘the most advanced in the world.’

AIT, along with Nigeria Television Authority and SuperSport Nigeria, is bidding for the broadcast rights of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled for Nigeria in October.

Warner, who headed the world football body's team on the inspection of facilities of the bidding venues for the cadet World Cup, expressed dismay at the state of most of the venues but said that AIT‘s facilities could compare with the best in the world.

He said, "I visited AIT unannounced to see their facilities and I saw OB vans which I feel are the most advanced in the world. I have not seen some of them anywhere else in the world. Their facilities are standard and can match any in the world. I commend AIT for this good job."

 

A member of the FIFA media committee, who was also part of the inspection team that departed the country on Friday night, Emmanuel Maradas, said that Nigeria needed to improve on its facilities for the U-17 World Cup but said there was no cause for alarm.

 

He said, "Nigeria needs the best facilities because the competition will promote the image of Africa. The media that will cover the event need the best facilities and above all accommodation and transport must be in place to make it a wonderful tournament. You have the manpower and so many people with pedigree to organise even the senior World Cup.

 

"There is no need to panic yet, although we went to Enugu and Kaduna, two cities with football backgrounds, and we were really disappointed. All the members of the delegation were shocked to see the poor state of facilities in both cities. There were so many questions left unanswered but the selection of the six venues will be based on what we saw on the ground."