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.