FIFA Under-17 World Cup – Nigeria is ready

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Following revelations by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for Nigeria 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup that FIFA is worried about preparations for the event, Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission, Engineer Sani Ndanusa yesterday assured that Nigeria is ready to host the world.

Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi Chairman of the LOC said at a retreat for the committee's management staff in Abuja last Saturday that "FIFA is very worried but the Local Organizing Committee is assuring them that we will get everything right, the outstanding job is enormous but we will reconcile all aspects to the satisfaction of FIFA".

In reaction to that, Ndanusa, who was speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, said all that is required to stage a befitting World Cup fiesta is on ground and Nigeria is waiting for the kick off day for the tournament.

According to the minister, "Everything is 100 percent ready, we want to assure you of our readiness and all that it takes to meet FIFA standard to host the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup is in place. In a nut shell, we are practically ready for the World Cup".

Asides, the minister disclosed that playing pitches and practices in each of the eight centres are ready for the World Cup matches, just as health facilities are at the finishing stages in readiness for the cadet soccer fiesta.

He added that accommodation facilities earmarked for the World Cup in the eight centres are ready and approved by FIFA inspection team as good for use.

He however said a few areas where organizers have identified outstanding issues will be fixed before next week for the World Cup which commences on October 24.

"We have forty training pitches out of which we have challenges in four of them, however we are at the stage of completing everything; each of the centre we have reached practical completion", Ndanusa stated.