Following Nasarawa United’s promotion to the First Division League in Nigeria, key sports stakeholders in the State and beyond have congratulated the team for the outstanding accomplishment.
They said the club’s unwavering dedication, exceptional teamwork and undeniable skill coupled with the humongous support by Governor Abdullahi Sule made the great achievement possible.
The State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Jafaru Ango, while speaking to the press shortly after the Solid Miners’ 2-1 win over hard-fighting Sporting Supreme on Wednesday morning at ‘The Cathedral’ Stadium, Enugu, to formalize their promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League next season, said;
“We thank God for the opportunity given to us to win this game and gaining promotion to the NPFL.
“Also, I want to appreciate our amiable Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, for being with us always, regardless of the circumstances. We are very excited over this laudable and commendable feat today.
“We are most appreciative of the Players, the Coaches, the Supporters’ Club, and the entire Management and Staff of the Club. What you have done is beyond description; you have done wonderfully and fantastically well.
“May God continue to bless your efforts so that, one day, we will be watching you from afar on the screen.”
Prior to the game, the Commissioner who has been with the team together with the Permanent Secretary, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, in Enugu since the beginning of the Super Eight Play-offs had made a personal donation of Three Hundred Thousand Naira(N300,000.00) to the players as his additional support to boost the morale of the team in the competition.
Chairman of the Nasarawa State Football Association, Salisu Galadima ‘Basira’, in lending his voice, opined;
“Let me congratulate our proactive Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, for ensuring the securing of the NPFL ticket.
“I will also want to appreciate the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development and his Management for the relentless support to see this team return to the Premier League. I acknowledge the huge efforts of the Management and Staff of Nasarawa United for making us proud through this achievement.
“To the players, rest assured that the Football Association is always behind you wherever you are going. I congratulate your determination and doggedness throughout this competition.
“On behalf of the Board of the State FA, I am donating the cash sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira(N500,000.00) to the players, and the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira(N150,000.00) to the ever-present Supporters’ Club.
“From here, I will be going back to Lafia to set the stage for your triumphant arrival to the State after the Super Eight.”
A strong supporter of the Solid Miners and indigene of Enugu State who performed his NYSC programme in Lafia, Nasarawa State some years ago, Okechukwu Igbokwe, alongside his friends, Ikenna Chukwude and Olisa Kingsley, visited the team’s hotel accommodation in Enugu and made personal donation of One Hundred Thousand Naira(N100,000.00) and promised to do more for the team to attain total success at the Super Eight Play-offs tournament.
Appreciating those who continue to pull their weights behind the team, Chairman of Nasarawa United, Dr. Othman Ahmed Ibrahim, described the atmosphere as ‘historic’ and ‘remarkable’.
“I am a very shy person. I think this is when I can lose words because what I wanted has already been achieved.
“We started this journey with an empty bus, but today, the bus is overloaded with victory.
“Why we are where we are today is because everybody is involved.
“I congratulate the Governor and our father cum number one financier, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, on this historic and remarkable feat as we wouldn’t have been here without his unalloyed support.
“I want to thank everybody, especially the young, committed, dynamic and gallant Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Jafaru Ango, the Permanent Secretary, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, and the entire staff of the Ministry for always standing by the team.
“This is what a victory journey entails. We should all come together like this, put our little effort to achieve our common goal.
“We thank God for this memorable achievement. We will return to Lafia in a triumphant manner to appreciate everyone who has been there for us.”
Nasarawa United won all three games in their Northern Conference Group to secure promotion to the elite domestic football league after one season off.
The team beat El-Kanemi Warriors 1-0 in their first match, won 2-1 against Sokoto United in the second game, before wrapping up the task with another 2-1 win over Sporting Supreme to top the Group’s standings on Nine(9) points.
The Solid Miners, tutored by Coach Usman Adams, will face Ogun State-based Beyond Limits Football Academy who topped the Southern Conference table on Seven(7) points in the Super Eight final showdown on Thursday, 13th June, 2024, at the iconic ‘The Cathedral’ Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, by 4pm, to determine the eventual champions of the 2023/24 Nigeria National League Season.
Winners of the competition will go home with Five Million Naira (N5,000,000.00) as Prize Money.
Source/Nasarawa United Media
