“This is FIFA Standard, not a renovation but total Construction” Director of Sports
- As University Management Commences the construction of State of the Art football pitch
“This is FIFA Standard, not a renovation but total Construction” Director of Sports
- As University Management Commences the construction of State of the Art football pitch
The Management of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Marietu Ohunene Tenuche, has continued the developmental strides in sport with the commencement of the construction of a new state of the art football pitch.
Speaking with members of the University Media Team, the Director of Sports, Coach Moses Balogun noted that the Professor Tenuche-led Administration of Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba is marked by development and innovations in various areas. In the area of sports, the Director stated that the ongoing construction of a standard football pitch is only one amongst many projects executed during the Professor Tenuche-led Administration. Others include “a first-class outdoor basketball court, a volleyball court, a standard outdoor handball court, etc”. He described the Vice-Chancellor as one who has excellent motivation, zeal, and total commitment to sports development.
The Director of Sports noted that the excellence of Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba at the Higher Institutions Football League, for which Prince Abubakar Audu University, out of 168 Universities in Nigeria, is currently the defending champion, marks one direct outcome of the University Management’s commitment to the development of sports in the University.
The Director of Sports emphasized that the football pitch project is not a renovation but a total construction targeted at positioning the football pitch at international standards. He added that when the project is completed, it will become one of the motivating factors for the return of National Championship in Nigeria as well as a high point of attraction for National and International football. He noted that the Vice-Chancellor’s continuous developmental strides in sports continue to consolidate her recognition by NUGA as the best Vice-Chancellor in Sports Management in 2022. The Director of Sports lauded the Vice-Chancellor for her commitment to sports unit and her purposeful utilization of resources to execute lasting landmark projects.
Professor Felix Enegho, a former Dean of the Faculty of Arts and an active footballer of the staff team expressed his excitement at the work and extended profound thanks to the Vice-Chancellor for embarking on many projects on the University Campus. He invited staff members to also maximize the facilities by participating in any of the sports available. He lauded the Vice-Chancellor’s strategic use of sports and an improved security network to curb social vices among students and remarked that with the state-of-the arts football facility under construction, the Vice-Chancellor’s vision remains sustained.
The Project Manager, Mr Isaac O. Obonyano confirmed that the ongoing football pitch project is nothing less of the FIFA Standard, including a field size of 80X100, a triple jump on both sides, and an internal drainage system to control water and make playing football on the pitch possible even during rainfall. He said that the football pitch under construction is of international standard, adding that its high quality FIFA standard synthetic grass has a minimum of 10 years guarantee before any maintenance.
The Project Manager, Mr Obonyano stated that the project’s execution time is eight weeks and the team is working assiduously to keep to it. He added that on its completion, the state of the art football pitch will position PAAU as a prospective host of highly ranked competitions such as NUGA, West African University Games (football), National Championships, and other International Qualifier Games.
The project which is ongoing at the time of this report is manned by Platborn Standard Integrated Services LTD, with a wide range of experience in the construction of sports facilities for over 23 years.