 |
| Anambra FA Chairman, General Iloenyosi |
Kenechukwu Ofomah
Awka
The management of Nationwide League One, NLO One side, De Gamechanger Football Club, believes with the pace at which grassroots football is developing under the General Chikelue Iloenyosi’s Anambra State Football Association, the state will soon become a model for amateur football development in Nigeria.
The Executive Chairman of the club, Surveyor Obi Emeka Chukwudi gave the view in an exclusive chat with The News Chronicles correspondent in Awka, Anambra State capital on Tuesday, on the state of sports in Nigerian and the various states.
Obi, who identified grassroots football development as central to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF’s bold agenda to explore the potentials that abound in the round leather object to create wealth and job opportunities for youths in the country, regretted that unfortunately, many subnational governments are still not paying attention to the area.
He maintained that no matter the amount of resources invested in making the professional league viable, without conscious effort to build up the amateur league that feeds the professional league, it will be efforts in futility.
The Gamechanger boss noted that the series of football competitions organized by the Iloenyosi’s administration for grassroots football talents have yielded budding talents, who would never have been able to secure an opportunity on the bigger platform.
He also said with the guidance of Iloenyosi, a former Nigerian international, a lot of amateur clubs have been provided the needed guidance to develop their structures, as well as get linked up with scouts, both within and outside Nigeria, to offtake their products.
“I read a lot of things on the internet against the present FA administration in Anambra State and I shudder. The truth is that the football sector in Anambra State has not had it this good for a very long time.
“The various grassroots competitions organized by the Anambra FA under Iloenyosi and those they supported individuals to put together are evidences of growth in our grassroots football sector.
“With his wealth of experience in the football business, Iloenyosi has shown that football, if properly managed can contribute significantly to the economy of a state.
“He had also attracted the National FA cup games in the state. It was also through his efforts that the under-17 scouting games were played in Anambra, which was done by the coach of the National under-17 team, Manu Garba. Under his leadership also, the state was able to host the NLO One Southeast games, many NPFL and NNL games as well as many other scouting programmes,” he noted.
Obi, who is also the Anambra State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, insisted that the various state governments across the country should begin to understudy the Anambra FA’s grassroots football model for onward replication elsewhere.
This, he noted, will ensure that no state is left behind in the nation’s collective effort to make football a viable income earner for youths.
The NYCN boss also acknowledged the All Stars tournament for persons above 40 years, and other football engagements that the FA has made an annual competition, with support from partners, providing opportunity for leisure and relaxation for football lovers and creating avenue for wealth creation for businesses.
Obi passed a vote-of-confidence on the Iloenyosi administration, noting that the support of all football stakeholders in the state is crucial for him to continue to achieve more for the state.
Comments
Post a Comment