FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP: LOC Admits Failure

Tosin Omojola - 07.11.2009

Nigeria’s Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan
shakes hand with one of the Golden Eaglets
players before the match against New
Zealand at the Abuja National Stadium.
Photo: Getty ImagesAPPARENTLY aware of the shotrcomings recorded so far in the on-going FIFA U-17 World Cup, the Local Organising Committee of the championship has admitted to making mistakes in some areas.

The championship which is now at the quarter final stage was initially marred by minor hitches some of which were later taken care of, but not without negative comments by the Federation of International Football Asssociation (FIFA).

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LOC, Mainasara Ilo while speaking on the on-going championship admitted that the committee did overlook some aspects which nearly rubbished the event.

According to him, the hitches witnessed could have been avoided in the first place had the (LOC) committee not neglected them. He referred particularly to the issue of attendance at match venues which was at the begining of the tournament a source of embarrassment to both the LOC and FIFA, admiting that the LOC under estimated the issue of crowd turnout.

The LOC CEO, however expressed happiness that the minor hitches were well tackled going by the improvement witnessed, saying that the committee had learnt its lesson in a big way. ‘To a very large extent we have learnt one or two lessons which I believe we will make use of in future, but by and large, the championship has been a success so far,” he added.