Badminton in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has reached a significant milestone, consistently bringing home medals from various competitions.
This success, according to the Chairman of the Badminton Association, retired Controller Bappa Muhammad Usman, is a testament to the sport’s maturity and the dedication of its practitioners within the nation’s capital.
Mr. Usman, speaking from his wealth of experience, highlighted the FCT’s crucial role in nurturing young talent. “Most of the youths that represented Nigeria at the Africa Youth Games recently were from here; they were trained here in FCT,” he proudly stated, emphasising the association’s strategy of identifying and developing players from a young age.
Looking ahead, the association’s primary focus is firmly set on grassroots development. Mr. Usman unveiled ambitious plans to extend badminton training to youths across all six area councils within the FCT. This initiative will culminate in a competition, with the victors earning the coveted opportunity to compete for the Minister’s Cup in the FCT. This strategic approach aims to broaden the sport’s appeal and unearth a new generation of talent.
Despite the sport’s growing popularity, the FCT Badminton Association faces a significant hurdle: a lack of external support. “The only thing we lack is people that can support us. We are the ones supporting ourselves for now,” Mr. Usman candidly admitted, appealing to organisations to rally behind badminton. He stressed that badminton, alongside football, enjoys widespread appeal, making it a worthy cause for corporate and governmental backing.
As the process of electing new boards for sports associations in the FCT gets underway, Mr. Usman offered a clear message to the incoming Badminton Board. Having served as the chairman of the Badminton caretaker committee, he emphasised the importance of continuity. “We have many work online that we have streamlined for them,” he noted, urging the new board to build upon the strong foundations already established. His charge is for the incoming leadership to sustain and enhance the initiatives that have proven beneficial for the sport’s growth and success in the FCT.
