By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Chairman, Niger Tornadoes Management Commiittee, Engineer Ibrahim Dada has assured supporters and fans of the darling team that the Bako Kontagora memorial stadium, Minna will host the club's home matches as from next football season.
Niger Tornadoes for years have been playing all home matches in Kaduna and Nasarawa states due to the bad shape of the Bako Kontagora memorial stadium in the heart of the state capital.
This trend has not only robbed the state of social and economic fortunes, but created gap between the football club and supporters, cum fans who had questioned the state government's inability to put the stadium into proper shape.
But the management committee's Chairman, Engineer Dada, interacting with the new state executive of SWAN assured that it is going to be a new dawn for football lovers in the state.
Dada was however quick to add that it is not his wish, nor that of the management team or players to play all previous home matches away from home but compelled to do so by circumstances beyond their control.
He expressed optimism that football lovers will have no reason to complain anymore because the contract for the upgrading of the stadium is already signed. "Bako Kontagora stadium will be ready in the next 3 months, precisely by August. The contractor assured us that by the beginning of the next football season we will start playing all our home matches here, if he is mobilized".
The management is planning on how to reposition the team for better performances, and this includes identifying some players that are no longer meeting up to expectations while at the same time negotiating on how to bring in their replacements, he said.
Congratulating the new SWAN executive for successful election, Dada pledged to support them in their plans and programmes for the overall interest of sports in Niger state, and football in particular.
The chairman recalled sad experiences playing home matches outside Niger state and its attendant consequences on both the management and players, adding that the movements became more of distractions not only on logistic aspect but for the team as it constituted to their sliding further down from 7th position on the national league table.
He appreciated SWAN members for being good partners in progress, adding that 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 between 22-23 of August.
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 partnership for the mutual benefits for both parties.
Kutigi expressed appreciation to the Niger Tornadoes boss for the warm welcome and assured him that SWAN, a professional body is ready to partner with the club's management team and other key stakeholders to promote the different sporting activities in the state. NNL.
