http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200910248433460

The FIFA U-17 World Cup starts today in Nigeria but the world soccer ruling body on Friday declared that the readiness of the country for the competition was not satisfactory.

FIFA Vice-President, Jack Warner, said at the world Press Conference to herald the event that FIFA was noted for 100 per cent performance in all its operations.

He said it was a disappointment that despite all his efforts and that of FIFA to get Nigeria fully ready to stage the event excellently well, it was clear that the country can only stage an average event.

Warner said, ”I would have loved to see everything in place but there are few problem areas here and there and that is not good for Nigeria. We are here already and we still want to see how the Local Organising Committee will assist FIFA to make the best out of this situation.‘

Our correspondent observed that there was no awareness in Abuja on Friday even though the competition will start today in the city.

From the airport to the National Stadium there were no banners on the road to indicate that the youths of the world are in Nigeria for the cadet football fiesta. Instead, there were banners of a telecommunications outfit around the stadium premises creating awareness for the 2010 World Cup holding next year in South Africa.

”We don‘t even know that anything is happening here and the first impression I am having is the tag you are putting on (accreditation tag),” a taxi operator told our correspondent on Friday

Also on Friday, FIFA Secretary- General, Jerome Valke, told the news conference that the body would not go back on the Magnetic Resonance Imaging test being conducted for the participating U-17 teams.

The FIFA Secretary advised that all the countries should have not less than four players on the standby in case some registered players fail the MRI test.

”It is a serious business. We expect all the teams to have done it but now we have to do it on our own to be sure that only players who are truly U-17 are competing in the event,” he said.

In Kano, teams at the centre were unable to train on Wednesday due to the sudden breakdown of the power generating set at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

Since the training pitches were not ready, the teams opted to train at the main stadium only for the generator to develop problems.

In Bauchi, FIFA officials and visitors were shocked on Thursday when the lift at the Zaranda Hotel stopped working and they had to climb up and down to carry out operations on Nigeria 2009.

In Abuja the Mobilisation Committee again disappointed Nigerians just as the body did in Lagos by failing to stage the concert they earlier promised.

The proposed concert billed to hold at the Eagle Square did not hold as at 4.30 pm as top officials of the body including its chairman, Dr Rafiu Ladipo, were said to be in Abeokuta for trophy presentation to Ogun State Governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel.

Accreditation in Abuja is however not as difficult as it is in Lagos. Our correspondent observed that legitimate people are being accredited easily at the Package B of the National Stadium while media accreditation holds at the Tanscorp Hotel.

A member of the Executive Committee of FIFA, Dr Amos Adamu however, allayed fear about the competition, saying that the three -week event will be hitch-free.

Adamu said, ”In every human endeavour, things cannot be perfect but that is the standard of FIFA. Nigeria will rise to the challenge and I believe that this event will go on smoothly after the kick-off on Saturday.”

The LOC Director of Organisation, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba, noted that the body was ready to showcase Nigeria to the world in a great way.

”We are ready and from Saturday, you will be amazed because the huge work of the LOC will fully manifest in this competition,” he said.

The ceremonies committee held the final rehearsal for its entertainment show at the stadium on Friday. The official opening ceremony holds at 2pm today while the Golden Eaglets will also file out against Germany at 7pm for their first match.

nigeria should stop applying to host sporting events they aren't fully committed to

MrPrsdent:

nigeria should stop applying to host sporting events they aren't fully committed to

true