By Ndife David – Awka.
The Chairman, Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA), Chief Chikelue Iloenyosi last weekend inducted 2023 pioneer class of seventy-five players from the Aguata academy for Under-13 and Under-17 categories.
Iloenyosi while congratulating the Aguata Football Academy (AFA) players for being selected among many who indicated interest reminded them that the road to fame is not easy but achievable through discipline, self determination and hard work. He thanked the parents of the players for their support towards the success of the project.
News Nigeria gathered that the colourful event held at the Aguata LGA secretariat brought together football stakeholders in the state, parents of the players who came to witness the unveiling of the pool of talented players.
In his address, the TC Chairman of Aguata LGA and the major initiator of the AFA project, Dr. Chibueze Ofobuike stated that AFA is a platform created to produce the next generation of top class footballers in the LGA and the state at large.
Ofobuike asserted that the existence of of AFA is an opportunity for players who were successful from the screening exercise to be groom as we anticipate that they will become potential professional footballers.
“Today, we are delighted to gather to celebrate seventy-five boys who qualified to be admitted into the Aguata Football Academy for the first time in history. We we had this vision of setting up a platform to train people in the game of football, it was like a dream but today, it has become a reality, he said.”
“This is a process and a journey as most big dreams started very small, we believe that in the nearest future, we will have world class players from AFA, added.”
He ceased the opportunity to to appreciate individuals who have contributed to the project and applauded the parents for their understanding and support. He went further to commend the chairman, Anambra State Sport Development Commission, Hon. Patrick Estate Onyedum and his counterpart chairman of Anambra State Football Association, Hon. Chikelue Iloenyosi for their advice, support and commitment towards the actualization of the project.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Hon. Patrick Estate Onyedum commended Dr. Ofobuike for his visionary leadership and commitment towards the success of the project.
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Chief Onyedum who was represented by a sport journalist, Dr. Ikenna Nwokedi affirmed that the players have a great future ahead of them with the combination of sport and education in their curriculum.
The Sport Commission Boss admonished the players to be focused on the task ahead, work hard and remain disciplined as these are virtues that will propel them to stardom into becoming world class footballers. He said that as a way to support the project the commission is donating give match balls to the academy even as he thanksed the parents for their support in making the dream come through.
Speaking on behalf of the local football council, the chairman Onitsha North LFC, Mr. John Ubendu commended the process which led to the selection of the players.
Mr. Ubendu affirmed that the selection process was smooth and hitch free as the scouts employed the use of exponential chart to get the right players for both the Under-13 and U-17 categories. He praised the TC Chairmain for birthing the vision into a reality.
Re-echoing the views of other speakers, a football administrator and a clergy, Rev. Fr. Damian Ogwatta thanked Dr. Ofobuike for putting Aguata once again on the map through the instrumentality of football. He called on the players to make the best use out of the opportunity.
Appreciating, one of the parents, Mrs. Njideka Chukwuemezie thanked Hon. Ofobuike for his innovation which yielded a good fruit. She said that AFA has answered her son, Peter Chukwuemezie whose prayer and dreams of playing football at the top level has become a reality.
