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3rd Amputee Nations’ Cup
Host Amputee Eagles seek financial support
Amputee Eagles, the nation’s amputee footballers who are gearing up to host the 3rd African Amputee Nations’ Cup billed for Lagos in April are appealing to Nigerians to assist them financially towards the realization of the noble goal.
Making the appeal in Lagos on Wednesday, president of the nation’s amputee footballers, Aare Feyisetan, told Vandykesport.com that they have heeded the Sports Ministry directive to channel their financial request through their supervisory federation, the Nigeria Paralympic Committee (NPC), formerly the Special Sports Federation of Nigeria (SSFN) and equally made approaches to corporate bodies for financial assistance to no avail.
“I think NPC should cater for the needs of all disabled associations, any of them that have laudable program NPC should come to their aid both financially and otherwise. That was our thinking when the sports ministry asked us to liaise with them, sad enough no response has come from them, not even the state government or corporate bodies we approached for help.
“Hosting right is rotated among members as a way of spreading the development of the game, Sierra Leone and Liberia hosted previous editions, and I think the gains of hosting the soccer fiesta outweigh every kobo put into it. We are not giving up; rather we will intensify the support drive.”
While allaying the fears that the continental body may be compelled to withdraw the hosting right in the face of difficulties securing the needed fund for the competition, the ex-paralympian who said hosting the event presents his ward a wonderful opportunity to win the title, however disclosed that nine countries have confirmed their participation.
“No deadline for now may be in future there would be need to ask the host country to confirm their readiness within a specified time.
“Nine countries have signified their interest to take part. They are Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Angola, South Africa, Kenya, Benin Republic and host, Nigeria.
“Hosting the event is an added opportunity for us to win the title; at least, we will not be arriving at the venue late as was the case previously. Again we have capable players like Emmanuel Ibeh, Chimaobi Michael, Monday Williams, among others to win the event with ease,” he said.
Nigeria finished fourth in the last game held Liberia who incidentally emerged the winner, Sierra Leone and Angola finished second and third respectively
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