The acting Director of Sports, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Sports Council, Mr Luka Istifanus, has commended the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for the encouragement and support it has been giving to the council to win medals at major competitions.
Istifanus stated this on Monday in Abuja while receiving the board of the FCT Badminton Association led by its chairman, Mr Gabriel Gbayan, who paid him a courtesy visit.
Istifanus said the FCT Sports Council has enjoyed the support and backing of the FCTA which has translated in its winning medals in major national competitions like the National Sports Festival, the National Youth Games and the maiden edition of National Para Games which was held in Abuja recently.
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“We have enjoyed 100 percent support from the FCTA led by the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Musa Muhammad Bello, who has usual has given us financial and moral support to excel at national competitions. However, I want to appeal to the private sector to partner with the FCTA so that we can take sports to the next level in the territory and engage the youth positively.
“I commend the leadership of the FCT Badminton Association under its chairman, Mr Gabriel Gbayan, for bringing honour to the FCT in competitions we have participated in. Badminton is the number  sport in the FCT. On the 7th of this month during the closing ceremony of the FCT U12/U15 Handball Championship, I said there in my speech that the FCT Badminton Association is number one in the FCT followed by FCT Tennis Association, FCT Football Association, FCT Handball Association, Cricket Association in that order. These associations have helped FCT in running sports and have brought glory to us,” he said.
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The FCT Badminton Association chairman in his remarks congratulated the Director of Sports who was once the secretary of the association on his appointment and for the level of support he has enjoyed from the FCTA.
“The Director has led FCT well to three important national sports events, the Edo 2021 National Sports Festival, the National Youth Games in Ilorin and the first National Para Games 2022 in Abuja where we did very well. We want to applaud the FCTA for their support and we want them to do more so that the athletes can continue to represent us very well in national sports events,” Gbayan said.