After nine long years, Niger Tornadoes Football Club has finally returned to its home ground, the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium in Minna.
The club’s chairman, Ibrahim Dada, expressed his joy and relief at the team’s homecoming, citing the significant financial burden of playing away from home.
In the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League season, Niger Tornadoes spent a staggering N5.5 million on each home match played away from Minna.
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This amount covered expenses such as transportation, accommodation, food, and stadium fees.
In contrast, playing at home is expected to cost the club around N2.5 million per match, a significant reduction.
The club’s chairman attributed the high costs to the need to travel four days before each match, book 25 hotel rooms, and pay for food and other logistics. He also emphasized the stress and fatigue caused by constant travel.
Niger Tornadoes have played 4 seasons away from home
Niger Tornadoes’ return to Minna is a welcome development for the team and its fans.
The club’s home advantage is expected to play a crucial role in its performance, and the chairman urged fans to maintain peace and order during matches to avoid sanctions from the Nigeria Football Federation and NPFL.
The club’s appreciation goes to the state government for upgrading the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium to meet NPFL standards.
Niger Tornadoes will play their home matches this season at the Kontagora Memorial Stadium, Minna.
Niger Tornadoes settles back into its home ground and the team is poised to make the most of its home advantage and deliver exciting performances for its fans.
In related news, the club’s chairman appealed to the media to help sensitize fans and the public on the importance of maintaining peace and order during matches.
This is crucial in ensuring that the team avoids sanctions and continues to play its home matches in Minna.
Niger Tornadoes’ homecoming marks a new chapter for the club, and with reduced expenses and a home advantage, the team is ready to take on the challenges of the NPFL season.
