Uba Sani has made our dreams come true—Amokachi

Governor Uba Sani has fulfilled a promise made to three former Olympic gold medalists 30 years ago by granting them land plots and naming streets after them. Daniel Amokachi, a renowned football manager and former professional player, shared his excitement over the fulfillment of the promise by the Kaduna State Governor. Amokachi, Garba Lawal, and Emmanuel Babayaro, all Olympic gold medalists, were promised land plots and streets named after them after winning the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Amokachi expressed his gratitude to Governor Sani for naming streets after those who were not as famous and for rewarding the veteran footballers and coaches during their lifetimes. Lawal, another former professional footballer and ex-General Manager of Kaduna United Football Club, praised the new Ahmadu Bello Stadium as a world-class facility that will meet FIFA standards when completed.

Babayaro noted that the stadium project has revived the football scene in Kaduna State, making it thrive once again. The Governor expressed his gratitude towards the football veterans, including coaches and administrators, for their contributions to sports and football development in Kaduna State. He highlighted the state's rich football history, with Kaduna producing many stars who have made their mark globally.

Governor Sani emphasized the need for the government to restore Kaduna's sporting glory and mentioned that the stadium had last hosted a CAF football tournament in 2016 when the Super Eagles played against Egypt. The stadium's current state was deteriorated, prompting the Governor to request President Bola Tinubu to hand over the facility to Kaduna State.

He assured that when completed, the stadium will have a capacity of 33,000, with a hybrid grass and synthetic pitch, making it the only FIFA-standard football stadium in Nigeria. The Governor further noted that Kaduna State is investing significantly in sporting facilities, as football generates substantial revenue for the region, with World Cup and CAF/AFCON tournaments boosting the economy through various sectors such as hotel accommodation and transportation.