President Goodluck Jonathan has been decorated as the Grand Patron of the Nigeria Football Club Worldwide.
This is even as the President donated a N50 million cash support towards the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
The brief decoration ceremony held shortly before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting, at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.
The President was decorated by the President General of the club Rafiu Ladipo, alongside the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdulahi, and the Nigerian Football Federation president, Aminu Maigari, with a white agbada embroided with green and white, with a green cap and a chain. The President General wore the same attire as the one used in dressing the President, except the gold chain. President Jonathan was also given a World Cup like trophy which serves as his stave of office while Vice President Namadi Sambo was given a green camouflage.
The President said he will consult with the Big Boys to donate more funds and the N50 million may double.
"The federal government and indeed all Nigerians appreciate and we need to encourage you to go to Brazil. The federal Government is going to give you a token but I will personally consult with the senior boys to add something to that. The federal government is going to start it with the sum of N50 million. But I am hopeful that by the time I will talk to some of our senior boys, I think the money may even double" he said.
The President further pledged that as the grand patron of the Nigerian football supporters club, his Administration will not relent in giving the support required to sports men and women in country to excel "in all international football competitions, this by extension includes the nigerian football supporters club. And I enjoined your strong partnership in this regard".
Jonathan who said he was joyful to be associated with the club which has contributed greatly in creating a "unique identity for our national football teams and in the process has brought smiles on the faces of millions of Nigerians through it's encouraging songs, drums and trumpets to produce cheering music that is uniquely Nigerian" urged them not to relent.
Commending members of the supporters club which is about 57 years old now, for their services to the nation, the President noted that he is aware that some of the members make sacrifices of funding their trips to competitions in support of the national teams. He added that "Your services are voluntarily and purely out of passion football and patriotism for your fatherland".
As the contry prepares for the 2014 world cup in Brazil and the Commonwealth Game immediately after, the Prejdent urged the Nigerian football supporters club not to relent in it's very important role in cheering the athletes and sports men to victory adding that "indeed, every Nigerian should be a member of this supporters club".
Earlier, the President General of the Supporters Club told the President that the group plans to travel with a total 1000 supporters. 500 to be gotten from Nigeria, while the other 500 will be fielded from Nigerians in Diaspora.
"We want to go with 1,000 Nigerians to brazil, 500 from Nigeria and some 500 from other Nigerians in other parts of the world. We have offices in all the places. We will be at least the semi-final at the world cup" he said.
He explained that the group decided to honour the President because of the numerous achievements "of our national team would not have been possible but for your support. Your luck gave us the U17 world cup, first time we took part in CHAIN and took the golden bronze. But for you fatherly support we would have not have qualified for the world cup. You have supported us in the past to support our teams".
No comments:
Post a Comment