Borno State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Empowerment, Honourable Saina Buba, has expressed the readiness of the state-owned football club, El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, to win this year’s President Federation Cup which has been scheduled to hold on 29th June 2024 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Sporting Tribune reports that the two-time FA Cup champions edged Kebbi United 5-4 on penalties on Thursday at the FIFA Goal Project pitch after a goalless 90 minutes of play.
Speaking with Sporting Tribune after the highly explosive encounter, Honourable Buba said the boys have been geared up to go for the kill against Abia Warriors and win the cup for Governor Babagana Umaru Zulum who has been a strong pillar of support for the team as well as supporters for their undying love for the club. He added that the governor would be on the ground to cheer the boys to victory in Abuja and motivate them to deliver the cup after 32 years.
“It’s some 32, 33 years ago that we played in the final of the then Challenge Cup. So, I have to thank God and appreciate His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umaru Zulum for giving us all what we needed to reach this stage. We were in Enugu to qualify for the Premier division (NPFL). We qualified even at the initial stage. We qualified from our group as top runners. We went to Enugu and qualified and today (Thursday) we have qualified for the final of the Federation Cup.
“I also want to praise the players for their hard work. I learnt that (Kano) Pillars were lost at the other venue. We are very happy and very excited that Warriors have shown that truly they are Warriors. We are assuring the players that the governor is with them as well as the supporters. I think we are progressing in the right direction.
“Don’t forget that the NFF has fixed the 29th of June for the final at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium here in Abuja. We are going to display our skills and ensure that our governor is there to cheer the players and take the cup back home,” the commissioner told Sporting Tribune.”
When asked if Borno has the facilities for CAF competitions, he said, “We have the facilities because we have been playing all our games at home in Maiduguri and it is on natural grass. We have the facilities to host CAF tournaments. I want your media to prevail on the Minister of Sports to complete the federal stadium sited in Maiduguri.
“Out of the stadiums in the six geopolitical zones of the country, it is only the Maiduguri Stadium that has not been completed. Sports is the only thing that unites every religion adherent, the North and the South. A player can play for any team in Nigeria and will feel comfortable there. Sports is indeed a unifying factor in Nigeria.”
Team coach, Aliyu Zubairu, while interacting with Sporting Tribune said his team has ample time to prepare for the Federation Cup final saying the final is like the icing on the cake for his team having already been promoted to the Premier League from the Nigeria National League (NNL).
“In fact, when we started, the Federation Cup was not in our plan but when we played the third round we realised that we could get to the semi-finals. And after getting to the semi-final, we said we could even push to the final and that is exactly what has played out. Our target has been on promotion to the NPFL which we said is not negotiable.
“We are ready for the final as we have at least a week to rest and it’s going to help my team a lot and definitely I don’t think Abia Warriors would stop us. All along what has been affecting my team is too much travelling from Maiduguri to Abuja, from Abuja to Enugu. It has been very tedious and that’s what is affecting the team.
“But now that we have a week to prepare (for the Federation Cup final) for the team to rest very well. Definitely, the final against Abia Warriors is something we can contest for,” he said.
