Niger Govt threatens to pull Tornadoes out of NPFL over Politicization of league

,,,,,,,As over 500 register for 2st State collegiate games

By Daniel Ebi, Minna 

Follow the ultimatum issued to the Management of Niger Tornadoes football club of Minna by the League management company to relocate it’s home matches from Minna to either Jos or Illorin over poor playing pitch,  Niger State government has threatened to pull the State team from further participation if the Politisation is not stopped forthwith.

The Chairman of the State Sports commission, Abdulul Danjuma Masu made the threat while speaking to Sports writers in preparation for the State first inter Collegiate festival staged Bago games at the commission’s headquarters in Minna on Thursday.

He frowned at the attitude of some unnamed sport administrators who have the penchant for frustrating State government investment in Sports.

” Our Stadium, the Bako kontagora memorial stadium is better than over ten stadiums currently playing in the League, our playing tuff can compete with any other “

” The State Governor has other competing demand for resources, but he has for the love of the youths diverted funds for maintenance of facilities yet, some selfish people in Abj are playing politics and discouraging us

” The Television right contract takes effect next year, so why use that as a smokescreen to forcefully evict a team from her home ground without any justifiable reasons 

” If they think we will go and beg them they, they may be shock,we will just pull out after all football is just one sport out of over 16 Sporting Associations that makes up Sports”

The League management company had on a letter dated 30th January ordered Tornadoes football club of Minna to choose between 

On the State  first inter Collegiate festival, the Commission Chairman disclosed that, a total of over 500 Students from 11 tertiary institutions have registered for the games scheduled to kick off from Monday,the 9th of February -15th of February at the Abdulkadri Kure University Minna.

Masu disclosed that about seven Universities in the State consisting of two State Universities, Two federal Universities and three private Universities have entered for the week long championship.

The State sports commission boss explained that the State has a crowded sporting calendar for 2026 as the inter secondary school games will be held by April and followed by primary schools games in June/ July before a Statewide  festival to select the State contingent for the national sports festival later in the year in Enugu.

According to him, winners of the inter collegiate games in each of the eleven events to be competed for will be given an automatic qualification ticket to participate in the State festival for a space at the national event.

Danjuma Masu disclosed that the overall winners will be presented with a giant trophy and each participant will be given some sourvinor and a certificate of participation while golf medalist stand the chance of automatic scholarship.