By Our Correspondent

The minister of Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mohammed Bello has been advised on the imperative of early release of funds for Team FCT as the 20^th edition of National Sports Festival, NSF draws closer, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report

Stakeholders in Federal Capital Territory who commended the FCT Minister, on timely approval of fund for Team FCT ahead of the NSF noted with concern the fact that approval and release of same fund are different things entirely.

Some stakeholders who have been following trends in FCT sports said it is unprecedented in the history of sports in Abuja to have approval for a sporting event as big as the national sports festival few months before the competition

Former FCT FA chairman and major stakeholders in FCT politics, Musa Talle said “preparation is the key for any state hoping to make appreciable impact at the forthcoming National Sports Festival” and he is happy to hear that FCT minister has taken a bold step by approving the fund needed for the competition

He, however calls for early release of fund to aid preparation of the team though he is aware that Director of sports and acting Secretary, Social Development Secretariat has already kick started open camping ahead of the festival which is a good one but he wants them to back it up with early release of fund so that FCT can give states like Delta, Edo, Rivers and Lagos a run for their money.

Director of sports, Abia Warriors Football Club and former Vice Chairman FCT FA, Patrick Ngwaogu said timely release of fund would go a long way in boosting the morale of the athletes and with the recent change in attitude to sports by FCT minister more athletes would start returning to FCT

Vice Chairman, Sports Writers Association, FCT chapter Tolulope Oguntimehin said he is encouraged by the way things are gradually turning around in FCT as it relates to sports  because for the first time the administration seems to be responding to the yearning of teeming FCT youth who sees sports as a means of empowerment and for the FCT minister to have approved fund few months ahead of the games is heavenly, he however wants them to ensure that the money is released on time so that the athletes can go into closed camping fee weeks before the festival.