A Minna based sports philanthropist, Alhaji Yusuf Isah Masaro has decried the non availability of a standard stadium that can host league matches in Niger state.
Alhaji Isah Masaro made this declaration on Saturday, while speaking to sports Journalists in Minna, during the finals of the Second Edition of a football competition organized in his honour by 123 football organization, tagged “Masaro Peace and Unity Cup.”
He said he was pained as a Nigerlite that a state that is as old as Niger state has no even a single standard stadium that can host a premier League match, where as states created far behind Niger state can boast of two or three stadiums.
Alhaji Isah Masaro who was a one time welfare officer of the state darling team, Niger Tornadoes said a lot of them want to come and complement the efforts of the government towards sports development in the state but absence of sports facilities is not encouraging enough.
He observed that it was sad that the immediate past Governor of the state traveled to another state to commission a stadium, whereas his state has no single standard stadium.
“Let me be frank with you, I am not happy my Governor, the former Governor left this state to go and commission a stadium in another state, where by his own state does not have a stadium,” he added.
Alhaji Isah Masaro also expressed optimism that the passion the present administration in the state under the leadership of Farmer Governor Mohammed Umar Bago is showing to reposition the state, there is hope of getting a standard stadium to host league matches.
He added that the directive given by the Governor for the renovation of the Bako Kontagora stadium is an indication of more good things to follow in terms of sports facilities development.
“Thank God we now have a Governor who knows the problem of Niger state in and out. I am saying this without fear or favour, and I am assuring you he is going to do it for us,” said Alhaji Isah Masaro.
