AWC;, host Delta State ready

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee(LOC), for the fast-approaching 5th African Women Championship, Ambassador Thaddeaus Hart has tasked host Delta State to expedite action on the renovation work on some of the facilities earmarked for the Championship.

Ambassador Hart, who is also the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development said in Warri that given the short notice given the State to host the bi-ennial event, the facilities on ground are impressive.

"My impression is that the facilities on ground are good given the circumstance preceding our acceptance to bail CAF out of the hosting dilemma they had. Ab initio, we were not the original host of the Championship and so I think what Delta State is showcasing is good. 'If you situate it within that context ,what is on ground now is very, very impressive. What needs to be done now is a few touches here and there , like increasing the sitting capacity ,additional floodlights and so on, which as a matter of fact are just routine".

The LOC Chairman further stated that the designated pitches are presently lush-green and meet with the required standard. "There is no need to start work on the pitches as if they were brand new and we are not thinking of regrassing them. All we have to do is manure them and that wont take much time". He also lauded Delta State Government for their swift reaction "I'm impressed , i'm happy , I feel proud and the credit in this regard should go to Delta State government who are always ready and willing ,on a regular basis .When we got the hosting right, we didn't have to wake up panicking because they were ready".

Ambassador Hart however admitted that the short notice did put some pressure on the Ministry and the State.r "Yes, it does put pressure because with the short notice there is little time to prepare as you would have wished but we are proud that Delta State has risen to the task and it is this resilience that Nigeria has been noted for and we shall always maintain that" Aisha Falode Chairman, Media Committee