By Adegbenro Adebanjo

THERE is no consensus yet on which is more effective between raw diplomacy and sports in advancing the cause of a country and polishing its image.  But what is not in doubt is the fact that sports has gone beyond mere competition among nations, but has become a veritable tool that can be leveraged on for socio – economic development in all climes.

For the host cities of the Federation International Football Association, FIFA, Under 17 World cup which took place in Nigeria, they did not bid to host just for the fun of it. They knew it was a one in a life time opportunity to showcase their cities to the World. Indeed what better opportunity can be available to market a city and its uniqueness than during a competition that is watched round the World?

Therefore when the world cup train berthed in Lagos, Abuja, Ijebu Ode, Bauchi, Calabar, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna those concerned with the hosting pulled all the stops to ensure an unforgettable spectacle. No city and State exemplified the carnival, spectacle and many gains of the Under 17 World Cup better than Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. For the three matches that held inside the magnificent Gateway International Stadium, it was carnival all the way. Of course the pace of economic activities especially those with entertainment content also quickened.

On the day of the first match, the Fears of the officials of the Federation of International Football Federation, FIFA,   that the fans would not come in large numbers as experienced in other centers disappeared hours before the commencement of hostilities between USA and UAE. The fans, old and young, workers, traditional rulers, indeed from all walks of life came to witness the final admission of Ogun State into the rank of the World’s comity of sports. AS the match between United State and UAE    got under way the Stadium practically became an organized cacophony as the vuvuzela was given full reign with Governor Gbenga Daniel, the driving force behind Ogun huge leap into sports prominence, leading the party.

The same spectacle was repeated during the second round match between Argentina and Columbia. And When Switzerland , the eventual winners of the competition, took on Italy in one of the Quarter final matches even the skeptics agreed with the admirers that the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration has  successfully used sports as a tool for development.

The success did not just come but was due to careful planning and superb organization which the Governor personally supervised. Weeks to the commencement of matches in Ijebu Ode, Carnival float took place in some major cities including Ijebu Ode. The floats were meant to create general awareness and bring home the World cup experience to all the nook and crannies of the State.

For Jack Warner, Vice President of the Federation of International Football Association, the success of the Ijebu Ode Centre was very apparent. After watching the second round match, Warner said everything in the centre was getting better and better.  He said when he came into the stadium he saw the transformation of the Games Village,, the indoor sports hall, the excellent media and medical facilities and the glittering training pitches  and of course the main bowl with one  of the best viewing sites for a VIP area.

All the teams which played in Ijebu Ode had kind words for the organizers for putting up a flawless hosting.   For Coach Ramiro Viafara of Columbia, the Ijebu Ode crowd was simply fantastic.”It is now I know that my ancestors are from Ijebu Ode. Look at the massive support for my boys. We are very grateful to the government and people of Ogun State,” the Columbia said after the massive support of the fans inspired his boys to victory.  Viafara’s position was corroborated by Steffan Scholz, one of FIFA’S top officials at the venue. He said the World Football Governing body was impressed   with the turn out during all the matches and the orderly conduct of the fans. Johnson Ayantunji of Daily Independent said the government and people of Ogun State had shown that they are capable of hosting bigger tournament with the State of the art facilities and superb organization put in place during the tournament.
They were only stating the obvious. The three matches recorded impressive turn out with the fans staying long after the matches to savour the excitement with parade round the town which continued hours after the end of hostilities. Hotels, relaxation centres and small time traders made brisk business as the celebration continued far into the night.

•Members of the 2009 Golden Eaglets celebrate during the recently held FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria.

The gains for Ogun State are indeed many. The State seized the opportunity of hosting the championship to upgrade its infrastructure and medical facilities. Thanks to the World cup, the Road leading to the Stadium has now been dualised while the Gateway International Stadium can now boast of facilities of international Standard. Bukola Olapade, Commissioner for Sports said the gains of the hosting are unquantifiable. He said the success was mainly due to the commitment of Governor Daniel who was personally involved in the preparation
Things can only get better for the State as it would build on the many gains of its hosting of some of the matches of the Under 17 World Cup to consolidate the use of sports as an instrument of socio- economic development. Governor Daniel said the State had used the opportunity of hosting the  World Cup to improve  its infrastructure which included new road network, rehabilitation of old ones  , construction of new street lights , and upgrading of the facilities of the Stadium which apart from its state of the art main bowl now has two astro turf training pitches. Otunba Daniel said medical facilities in the State also got some boost because of the cadet World Cup. The governor enumerated other gains of the hosting to include the rise in commercial activities, stimulation of the interest of the young ones in football and other sports while the state has also become a prominent member of the international sporting community.

The Governor has also given an assurance that facilities used to host the world cup in Ijebu Ode would be maintained and utilized all year round.  He said the state owed its successful hosting of the World Cup matches to the fans who trooped our in unprecedented number to watch all the matches to the delight of   Nigerian and FIFA officials. He commended the Local Organizing committee of the Ijebu Ode sub seat for ensuring that that everything ran smoothly without any glitch.

The Organizers of the championship  say Ogun State deserves top marks for being such an impressive hosts. A delegation of the Federation of International Football Associations, FIFA, and that of the Local Organizing Committee, LOC of Nigeria 2009 led by Mr. Michael Kuchenbecker and   Mike Itemuagbor respectively gave the verdict. Itemuagbor thanked the government and people of Ogun State for their contributions to the hosting of the global championship. He said Ogun under the administration of Governor Daniel had harnessed the many advantages of sports for the good of the people. He described the Gateway International stadium and its facilities as some of the best ever presented for a FIFA age grade competition. Kuchenbecker and Stephen Scholz who spoke on behalf of the FIFA team said they were impressed by the organization put in place in Ijebu ode sub seat describing the security arrangement as watertight.

Perhaps impressed by what he saw in Ogun State,  Chief Raufu Oladipo, the President-General  of the Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters Association, NFSSA has advised   Governors in the country to take a cue from Ogun State in formulating and executing   sports development programme that would be beneficial to the youth, the generality of their people and the country.

Describing the Stadium as a first class arena that can rank with any in the World, Chief Ladipo said with its two practicing astro turf pitches and other supporting facilities that are not in many centers, the people of Ogun State should stand tall that they have a governor who is passionate about sports development and is setting the pace in the provision of world class sporting facilities.

Chief Ladipo said he was not surprised that the Stadium presented by Ogun State for the World cup has received general commendation because he was in Ilaro when another stadium was commissioned which in spite of its location in a regional city, had all the facilities of a world class stadium. Chief Ladipo said by building a new stadium in Ijebu Ode and Ilaro and refurbishing the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Governor Gbenga Daniel has given the State an enduring legacy of sports development. He said apart from the gains of production of World class athletes and footballers, Ogun State has become a permanent member of the International Sporting Community which will continue to play host to major competitions .Oladipo, the Chairman of the Mobilization Committee for the World Cup urged other State Governors to emulate Ogun by building standard sports stadiums in order for the country to improve on its ranking in the World of Sports.

There is no doubt that Ogun State delivered on its promise to stage an unforgettable fiesta for the young lads of the World. And the state has earned for itself a prominent place as a major destination for international sports.
•Adebanjo, a Journalist, lives in Abeokuta.