By Albert Akota
The Chairman of the FCT Badminton Association, Gabriel Gbayan yesterday in Abuja said that the association’s goal was to develop the sports at the grassroots level in the FCT.
Gbayan made the remarks during a courtesy call on Justice Danlami Senchi, the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) at the Package B National Stadium Complex, Abuja.
He explained that the aim of the courtesy call was to acquaint himself and his board members with the major stakeholders of the sports.
FCT Badminton Association Board was inaugurated by the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed on April 27.
The Chairman said that the board’s intention was to improve the game of badminton in the FCT during the four year tenure of his board.
“Our drive to improve the game in the FCT is mainly hinged on taking the sport to the grassroots thus eroding the elitist perception of the game.
“In this light, we intend to organise four competitions on an annual basis namely; Inter- Council Competition, FCT closed Championship, FCT Junior Championship and Veterans Championship.
“Also within the period of this board, we equally intend to organise the following; FCT inter-club Championship, National Open Championship and International Championship,’’ he said.
He also noted that inspite of the board’s late inauguration; it intended to keep the flag of the sport flying by organising inter-club friendlies within the FCT and its environs.
Gbayan further explained that the association was in talks with both the FCT Sports Commission and other stakeholders with regards to the financing of all its outlined programmes.
He also called on the BFN and other sports loving Nigerians to give their required support to enable the association achieve its laudable programmes.
The BFN President in his response praised the FCT Association Badminton board on their laudable grassroots programme, adding that grassroots development was the key area that the federation was also concerned about.
He assured the FCT Badminton board that the BFN would continue to partner with them to encourage grassroots sports development.
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