By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo.
No fewer than two thousand persons (stewards) have been mobilized by Akwa Ibom state government to ensure effective crowd control at Godswill Akpabio international stadium in Uyo, as Nigeria Super Eagles lock horn with Desert Foxes this Saturday for 2018 world cup qualifier match.
Chairman, publicity sub-committee of the constituted local organizing committee (LOC) for the match, Mr. Nse Edem who disclosed this at a press conference in Uyo said security personnel have also commenced training on how to manage the large fans expected to watch the match live at the stadium.
Mr. Edem who is also the permanent secretary, Akwa Ibom state ministry of youth and sports, said the state government has also subsidized the ticket for the match to N500.00, effort aimed at encouraging more football fans to watch the contest live at the stadium.
Sales of ticket, according to him will commence from Wednesday to Friday this week at designated places across the state while some will also be sent to other states for fans wishing to come for the match to buy.
He explained that measures put in place for the successful hosting of the match are meant to ensure that lapses observed in the last AFCON qualifier against Tanzania which was also played in Uyo do not reoccur.
Edem added that the constituted LOC for the match with secretary to the state government (SSG), Mr. Etekamba Umoren as chairman; include a medical, security, accommodation and marketing and would be coordinated by veteran sports journalist, Mr. Paul Bassey.
“As far as we are concerned there will be no excuses for failure because we have learnt our lessons from the last AFCON qualifier match played in Uyo and we have put every arrangement in place to ensure they don’t reoccur” he assured.
“As far as Akwa Ibom state is concerned there will be no margin for errors for this weekend’s qualifier match and we are confident that Uyo will host all the Super Eagles home matches for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier”, Edem added.
To cheer up Super Eagles team to victory, 20,000 branded T-shirts in Nigeria’s colour (green and white) will be distributed free of charge to football fans coming to watch the match.
Nigeria currently leads their group in Russia 2018 African qualifiers after a though 2 – 1 win in Ndola agaist host Zambia last month.
The Desert Foxes of Algeria could only manage a draw against visiting Indomitable Lions of Cameroun to bring up the rear in the group.
Meanwhile, the stadium is wearing a new look for the soccer bout. Officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after their recent inspection tour of facilities at the stadium adjudged the place fit for the match.
The knob followed Governor Udom Emmanuel rapt attention that ensured all grey areas within and around the stadium that needed attention were dealt with by experts from Julius Berger group who has 10 years contract agreement to maintain facilities at the stadium.
The stadium has of recent received negative media hike bordering on the fast decaying condition of the facility in less than three years that it was built by the immediate past administration in the state.
However, former special duties commissioner in the state, Engr. Etido Inyang whose office supervises work at the stadium admitted the drop in the maintenance of the facility but said it occurred at the point the contract for the maintenance of the facility had elapsed into another phase.
