Sports
Stakeholders Task Govt On Grassroots Sports Dev
Two football academy
proprietors have called on state governments to enhance investments in sports by providing a conducive environment for its development.
The proprietors told our correspondent in Awka, in separate interviews that there was a need for the governments to interface and partner with them on how to develop private investments in sports.
The Chairman of Golden Child Football Academy, Ezi-Owelle in Anambra, Emeka Ikezu, said proper funding of grassroots sports and concerted efforts were needed to reach Nigeria’s desired height in football.
Ikezu said the intervention of individuals and corporate organisations through academies and sponsorships was inevitable because sports at all levels had not been getting the desired attention from the government.
The chairman said his academy recently concluded its “come as you are talent haunt”, after which he gave scholarship to 20 young footballers in the state.
He said the academy intended to provide both football training and formal education to the selected students.
In his contribution, the Administrator of Dynamic Sports Foundation, Mr Donatus Ezeokafor,told our correspondent that the foundations had been discovering and promoting young talents in the country.
Ezeokafor said that in spite of the foundations’ efforts in turning out young talents for the country, they are not incorporated into the programmes of the sports ministries.
“For the sake of our youths, we need the government to support our efforts in providing direction for these talented youths,” he said.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”