NAN-S-10
Amputee
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, Jan. 11, 2017 (NAN) Babatunde Willoughby, the Vice-President, Nigeria Amputee Football Federation (NAFF), on Wednesday said the body would ensure that dearth of activities experienced in 2016 would not recur in 2017.
Willoughby told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the board met in December 2016, where issues rocking the sport were addressed as well as complaints by the footballers.
“I was with the footballers in December during the football competition to mark the world disability day and we talked at length.
“The forum gave them the opportunity to express themselves and I took note of their complaints and requests which I tabled before other members of NAFF.
“Our concentration will be on organising national competitions to keep players busy and by extension, create a platform for them to prepare adequately for international competitions,’’ he said.
Willoughby said that the idea was to revive the dwindling sport, encourage existing footballers across the country and identify upcoming players with keen interest in building their football career.
The NAFF official said that the body had lost some of its national players to foreign countries as a result of dearth of activities which according to him was bad.
“Its regrettable that our players did not get the best last year, and that was because of some in-house problems but we are going to make it up this year.
“We must give a new lease of life to our sport, restore the hope of existing footballers and hold competitions to attract new footballers to the amputee family,’’ he added.
Willoughby said that necessary arrangement had been put in place to attract sponsors for its 2017 activities, while urging players and coaches to continue with their training. (NAN)
MIL/ENN/PDE
===========
(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)