By Our Correspondent

Ahead of September 30 elections, Chairman of FCT Badminton Association, Mr. Gabriel Gbayan has joined the race for the position of presidency of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, BFN

Mr. Gbayan whose transformation imprint signposted Badminton in FCT to the national and international stage, said he is showing interest because he wants to take the sports to greater heights

The Benue-born administrator who was not happy with the state of the Federation secretariat when he went to submit his form, said he was going to transform the place.

He also revealed that his operational strategy will be engagement,  integration and collaboration to achieve the dream of the founding fathers of the game of badminton .

The FCT chairman further noted that, “I want a less rancour arrangement that every stakeholder  will be considered to achieve our objectives of improving this game in all its facets.”

Mr. Gbayan is presently the chairman of FCT, a position he occupied in 2014 before he was reelected for the second term. He is also a board member of the BFN representing the North Central zone.

Meanwhile, while in office, he was able to organise Badminton competitions for U-15, U-19 and U-21 in Abuja in 2015. He also organised the National Badminton Classic in Katsina-Ala, Benue State in 2016 and the North Central Badminton Championship in Minna, Niger State in 2018.

Dr. Abubakar Sani Bello North Central Zonal Badminton Championship was also sponsored by Mr. Gbayan in Minna, Niger State in 2019, while several FCT in-house tournaments involving all grades including veteran competition were also taken care of by him.

Other achievements of Gbayan includes: *He singlehandedly sponsored 80 umpires across the country in 2018 on a course in Abuja for the first time in 10 years.

He also co-sponsored an invitational championship for active and veterans in Jo’s, Plateau state in April 2021where he also presented Badminton rackets, pairs of canvas, amongst others to players.

He had sponsored so many players to national and international competitions.

Many stakeholders in the game believe that Gbayan has what it takes to move Badminton to the top.

Nigeria sports Federations’elections will hold on September 30, 2021 in Abuja.