Sports
THE first ever Football Symposium convened by Smart Sparrowz Youth Foundation International in partnership with the Anambra State Football Association was held at the Fides Complex Okpuno Awka to establish the challenges of football at the grassroots. The symposium had in attendance representatives of Club owners Association, LFC Chairmen, Referee’s Association, Media, Coaches Association, Players Union, Match Commissioners and Fans.
The Symposium thanked the Anambra Sports Commission Chairman, Patrick Onyedum, who was unavoidably absent but represented by Akaa Chika, who is a Director at the Sports Commission. The Symposium also appreciated the giant strides of the Anambra Football Association under the current chairman, Gen. Chikelue Iloenyosi.
Clement Onejeme, CEO of Smart Sparrowz Youth Foundation International, emphasized the importance of the symposium, which is geared towards identifying the problems of Anambra state with regards to sports, but football in particular, while giving sustainable solutions to improve the sector in the state.
The moderator of the programme, who doubles as the Chairman of Anambra Independent Football League, Rev Fr Obinna Dike thanked the convener for the initiative as he threw the floor open for participants to mention some of the challenges of grassroots football development in the state.
Some of the issues identified included Age, Facilities, Health, Regulations, Structure, Standard, Packaging/Commercialization and Scouting.
In his contribution, a respected football administrator Opia Obiakor spoke of the absence of sports foundation and grassroots development. He thanked the Sports Commission for reviving school sports.
According to Amechi Nwakaeze, major scouting programmes are lacking in the state unlike in most states in Nigeria. He enumerated the benefits of consistent scouting exercise for academies as evident in Lagos where he is based.
Fr Damian Ogwata, the Vice Chairman of AIFL, raised the issue of regulations across board, citing coaches as example. He stated that it is important that anyone who goes by the name coach and practices in the state should join the association. This will help make an even distribution of information among coaches easier.
A media guru, Ikem Asika, said that the state lacked structures “because we haven’t had sports people at the helm of affairs”.
A renowned grassroots coach, Donatus Ezeokafor suggested that the government should help out in giving subvention to local academies for survival. He also stressed the need for the FA to facilitate scouting exercise, while respective clubs should engage professionals for proper packaging of their teams.
The report by Myckie Chukwuebuka, Secretary Anambra State Football stakeholders Symposium, said that the Symposium unanimously appointed Opia Obiakor as the Chairman to pilot the affairs, with Joseph Obiy Umudu as Vice and Myckie Chukwuebuka as the Secretary. This steering committee will be saddled with the responsibility of convening the next meeting and setting agendas.
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Tags: Joseph Obiy Umudu Myckie Chukwuebuka Opia Obiakor Smart Sparrowz Youth Foundation International
