Ahead of thisweekend’s crucial play-off between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in AddisAbaba for the Brazil 2014 world cup ticket, Senate President, David Mark, has charged the Nigeriaside to leave nothing to chance in the battle.
Mark, in a goodwill message to officials and players of Super Eagles, through his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, told Super Eaglesthat the nation “desires the World Cup ticket more than ever.”
”This World Cup in Brazil is very important to Nigeria. We need to be at the World Cup. Whatever we can do to earn the ticket must be done without delay”, Senator Mark stressed.
Besides, being a unifying factor, he said football and sports generally have become amajor tool for international politics and ranking (rating) of nationsby international community .
”If we must maintain our status as the giant of Africa and amajor player in the global community, we must have a stamp of authority in sportsespecially soccer. Our officials and players must appreciate thisfact and do the needful to make the nation proud”, Senator Mark stated.
He reminded the players of team spirit and cohesiveness in handling their Ethiopian counterpartsstressing that they must not be under any guise under rate their opponents until the battle is fought and won. Senator Mark was optimistic that the Nigerian government would live up to its billings in terms of adequate welfare to the players and officials.
In a related development, Senator Mark hasurged Nigeriansespecially the youths to show interest in the game of golf just as he dismissed the notion that the game is elitist.
Speaking when he tee-off the 2013 NigeriaCup organized by the Ikoyi Golf Club in Lagos Senator Mark said everything should be done to encourage youths to take interest in sports.
He said contrary to the erroneous impression thatgolf is only for the elites, it is actually agame for all persons and for all ages.
”If you still see golf as an elitist game, then , you are living in the past. All the professionalswe have today were caddies yesterday. There are no queensor kings playing. We are all ordinary people. We should do more to get people interested in the game of golf,”he added.
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