2009 U-17 World Cup: Lulu sure of FIFA’s nod

By Tosin Omojola - 01.07.2008

LuluChairman Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the FIFA U-17 World Championship billed to be staged in Nigeria in 2009, Alhaji Sani Lulu is hundred per cent sure that the world soccer-ruling body would give Nigeria the final nod to host the competition.

Alhaji Lulu, who is the chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), said during a chat with Tribunesports that he nursed no fear as far as Nigeria’s chances of getting FIFA’s final nod to host the rest of the world next year.

Exuding confidence, the Kogi State-born soccer administrator said with the level of works done on the various stadia in contention for the hosting of the matches of the championship, coupled with the comments of the FIFA inspection team led by Jack Warner, he had no doubt about the country’s chances of staging the event.

Lulu said: “I am quite sure that Nigeria would eventually get the hosting rights for the championship going by the level of preparedness of the LOC as well as the progress made so far on the designated stadia.

“By the time the inspection committee returns in July for the final round of inspection, all the venues would be in good shape.”

He expressed happiness over the comments made by Warner in which the FIFA vice- president commended Nigeria on the progress made so far in putting the designated venues in shape in readiness for the championsship last hosted by South Korea in 2007 and won by Nigeria.

Lulu also felt elated with the level of relationship existing between the LOC and FIFA, saying that it goes a long way to confirm the football federation’s satisfaction with Nigeria’s commitment to stage a successful championship, just as he thanked the world body for reposing such confidence in Nigeria to host the championship.

While confirming that the six successful venues to host the matches of the championship would be announced by FIFA after its final inspection in July, Lulu hinted that the LOC hoped to inaugurate the sub seats committees for the championship.

Lagos, Kano, Ijebu-Ode, Calabar, Kaduna, Bauchi, Enugu are among the venues bidding to host the matches.