ADFC Maiden Edition: NDFA, NDSF Appeal To Sports Minister For Release Of Funds For Early Preparation

The Nigeria Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) and Nigeria Deaf Football Association (NDFA) have begged the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare to release funds to enable early preparation for the fast approaching, first ever Africa Deaf Football Championship.

Chairman of the federation, Hon Kabiru Umaru made the appeal in an interview with Inclusive News Network (INN) to draw attention of the ministry to the situation of Deaf football.

Part of the interview reads: “We beg the Minister of Sports and Youth Development to release funds for us to start camping this week. Time is running out and not in our favor. If we start training early, we will have better chances of success at the event.”

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Umaru said “Deaf Team Nigeria” has got the support of the Federal Government and other agencies to participate in the championship.

According to him, the ministry has approved funds for their participation in the event. However, it is yet to be released.

Training starts this week in Abuja or Lagos and runs through September 7th. Deaf Team Nigeria will leave the country for Kenya on September 9th for the championship.

The Nigerian Deaf contingent is expected to travel to Nairobi, Kenya with 23 players and 7 officials for the first ever Africa Deaf Football Championship scheduled to hold from September 11 to 25, 2021. They will be slugging it out with other African countries from which the four best teams will qualify for the World Deaflympics, Brazil 2022.

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Information on Confederation of Deaf Sports (CADS) social media page reveals that 20 African countries were invited for the competition. However, according to Umaru, only 14 countries will be participating in the championship hosted by Confederation of Deaf Sport, CADS. Three stadiums, Kasarani stadium, Nyayo stadium, and City Stadium all in Kenya will be used.

Asked if his boys will bring the cup home and qualify Nigeria for Deaflympics in Brazil, Umaru said “I’m sure by the grace of God Nigeria will qualify for Brazil 2022.”

He asked Nigerians to pray for the team to return home with a ticket to the 2022 Deaflympics. He also thanked the Minister of Youth and Sports Development for consistently supporting NDSF to participate in World Deaf sports event since 2005.

Nigeria has qualified for the Deaflympics since 2005. A four time winner of ECOWAS Deaf football championship, the country has reached the finals on nine occasions.