Kwara State is pursuing sporting excellence through the establishment of world-class facilities

With the eyes of the sporting world on Africa in 2010 because of the first FIFA World Cup to be held in Africa, Kwara's focus on football is sure to reap good dividends. The high-profile Kwara Football Academy and the much-anticipated upgrade and extension of the state's premier sporting facility - the Kwara State Stadium Complex - are at the centre of the , state's pursuit of sporting excellence.

Fittingly, Kwara United Football Club recently regained its Nigerian Premier League [NPL) status and, with the strong support of its fans, the club is hoping to emulate in 2010 the excellent performances of the teams of yesteryear. In 1994, Kwara United played in a continental semi-final (the CAF Cup) and in 2007 it advanced all the way to the final group stage of the CAF Con-federation Cup. The club is funded by the state but with the sale of six outstanding players to foreign clubs, funds have been generated by the club itself which is a step on the road to independence. 

Kwara Football Academy

The Kwara Football Academy (KFA) is already earning an international reputation. A recent tour of Europe was a great success. As a result of this tour and other strategic interventions, at least seven of the academy players earned trials with European clubs.

With the Kwara State Government providing infrastructure and buildings, private partner Avery Atlantic (Nig) Ltd is responsible for the running of the college.

Situated on 35 hectares of prime land within the broader Kwara State Stadium Complex, every facility caters for the promotion of the young participants' wellbeing, with the aim of achieving a balance between educational and sporting goals.

KFA has four standard football pitches, a lawn tennis court, a basketball court and a gymnasium. The facilities are well spaced out, giving a calm and aesthetically pleasing aspect to the academy environment.

Students, all of whom attend the academy for free if they are from Kwara, live in the student hostel and have access to the KFA medical centre. In addition, there is an administrative block and the classrooms of the academy.

Students emerging from KFA are in a position to write various examinations, including Nigeria's West African School Certificate, the International General Certificate of Secondary Education and the International Baccalaureate. Subjects covered at the academy include languages (English, French and one other European language), mathematics, creative, technical and vocational studies, and a selection from the sciences.

The Director of the Academy is acclaimed Dutch soccer coaching master Clemens Westerhof and he is assisted by three coaches, a trainer, a physiotherapist, a masseur and assorted technical and administrative staff members. A physician and a nurse look after the medical needs of the students and staff while an academic staff of 10 attends to the curriculum and teaching at the academy.

KFA creates opportunities for players to be scouted by clubs but a host of other programmes also equip the young players for other careers beyond the playing pitch, such as in sports management. In addition, training in attitude management and the necessity of adapting to foreign environments is aimed at assisting the young people to adapt to whatever circumstances arise. Monitoring and mentoring are at the heart of the KFA programme.

Kwara State Stadium Complex

The Governor of Kwara, Dr Bukola Saraki, pledged in his 2010 budget address to the Kwara Sta(e House of Assembly that his administration was determined to renovate and upgrade the stadium complex, situated in Ilorin. This was being done, he said, in line with the state government's 'commitment to recovering our heritage and infrastructure'.

The stadium’s main current role is to host the home matches of Kwara United. Built in the late 1970s, the stadium played a central role in the hosting of the 1985 National Sports Festival.

An amount of N1.3 billion has been set aside in the state’s 2010 budget for improving and renovating the facilities that already exist on the site. The swimming-pool complex, which includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool, has already been renovated and improved.

The new main stadium will comfortably host 20 000 spectators and there will be four changing rooms and an indoor sports hall. The track will be an eight-lane Mondo track with floodlights. In addition, conference rooms, a new VIP area, a covered press gallery and an artificial football pitch will be installed. All of these upgrades are to be made to comply with the guidelines set down by world football body, FIFA

Existing Facilities

 

• Football pitch
• Eight-lane running track
• Dressing rooms, medical room, offices
• Gymnasium
• Indoor sports hall and restaurant/bar
• Swimming pool complex: competition, practice and diving pools, grandstand for 1000 spectators, conference hall, restaurant/bar.
• Basketball and Volleyball courts with floodlights
• Tennis arena: six courts and practice wall
• Squash hall: see-through back panel, office space and seating arena.

Investment Opportunities in Sport

• Hotel to cater for competitors, officials and supporters.
• Motel and camping accommodation for visitors on a budget
• Car wash
• Supermarket
• Cinema hall that can also accommodate stage shows