Nkechinyere Ewa
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has pledged that outstanding footballers discovered through grassroots competitions across the state will be integrated into the Abakaliki FC feeder team.
The governor made the pledge during the flag-off ceremony of the FON Youth Movement Ebonyi North Constituency Football Competition, sponsored by Chief Chikadoli Ojemba, and held at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki.
Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Prince Richard Idike, Governor Nwifuru described football as a powerful unifying force and commended the organisers for creating a platform to discover and nurture young talents.
Prince Idike expressed optimism that Ebonyi indigenous players would soon dominate Abakaliki FC, noting that while professional football goes beyond raw talent, many gifted youths in the state only require proper training and exposure to excel at higher levels.
He disclosed that Abakaliki FC operates both a main team and a feeder team with full approval and backing of the state government. Although player registration is restricted to the start of the season, he said the club is actively scouting talents from ongoing competitions such as the Enviable Tournament, Darlington Football Competition and other local contests across the state, with plans to integrate outstanding players by next season.
According to him, about ninety per cent of Abakaliki FC players would be Ebonyi indigenes by the next football season.
Earlier, the National President of the FON Youth Movement and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation, Comrade Chinedu Emerike Orji, lauded Governor Nwifuru for his sustained support for youth empowerment and sports development.
Comrade Emerike explained that the competition was designed to promote peace, unity and mutual understanding among youths, adding that future editions would be expanded beyond the Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone to accommodate participants from across the state.
He announced that the winner of the FON Youth Ebonyi North Zone Sports Competition will receive a cash prize of ₦3 million, while the second and third positions will go home with ₦2 million and ₦2.5 million respectively.
The opening match of the competition ended in an entertaining 3–3 draw against Ohaukwu South East.