Sports

Beyond Real Madrid Football Academy

Published

6 years ago

May 29, 2019

Often times, one’s character, vision and legacy are moulded by the level of commitment and passion he or she demonstrates towards a given issue, subject or cause. Since May 29, 2015 when His Excellency, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, POS-Africa was sworn in as the 16th Governor of Rivers State, he has demonstrated an uncommon love, interest and commitment to sports and youth development.
It is easy therefore, to understand and appreciate Governor Wike’s exemplary policy thrust in sports in the State. This is benchmarked by his belief and vision that sports is a key sector that affects the youth and has the potential to not only engage them but help in addressing some societal quagmire he met as he assumed office.
Through sports, the Governor hoped to catalyse job creation, skill and infrastructure development and mobilise the youth of the State away from crime and other vices.
The premium Wike’s administration placed on sports was further accentuated by the N2.5b budgetary provision for the sector last year. It is pertinent to note however, that the unprecedented commitment of the administration is not restricted to the sports sector, as others, including but not limited to education, housing, roads, health, Urban renewal and others, have received robust intervention.
No wonder, Governor Wike was aptly named Mr. Projects, an effort to underline the massive projects he has accomplished in the State within his few years in office.
True to his cognomen, the Governor, only last year hinted at a capital intensive project, a football academy in the mould and practices of the famous Real Madrid Football club of Spain. This pet project is in liaison with Los Blancos themselves.
Less than 12 months later, Governor Wike has demonstrated that his Moniker, Mr Projects, is not misplaced as the academy is virtually ready to commence business in Port Harcourt. Today, sitting within the Yakubu Gowon Stadium is the Real Madrid Football Academy, a world class football facility, soon to begin the weaning of young football talents from Rivers State and beyond.
Already, a batch of young coaches and technical hands have been sponsored by the state government to an intensive training at the mother academy in Spain, preparatory to the opening of the Port Harcourt arm.
According to the former Commissioner for sports in the State, Hon. Boma Iyaye, the project is as a result of the Governors desire to bequeath to the people a quality platform for the identification of football talents, weaning of such talents and opportunity to express such talents within a world class framework that will open door to unlimited opportunities within and outside Nigeria. Furthermore, the academy would not only offer opportunities to kids who ordinarily would not be able to afford the luxury of a football academy and perhaps, waste their talents, but provide job opportunities to a number of people in the State.
The idea is to groom a set of gifted football players, who would not only live off their talent but with good education for a better, useful life and be prepared for another career after football.
Hon. Iyaye described the Governor as being very passionate about the academy which he believes would contribute effectively to changing the face and culture of the game, not only Rivers but in Nigeria as a whole.
Indeed, Rivers State boasts of rich football talents, especially at the grassroots level. With projects such as the Real Madrid Academy, young footballers in the State would begin to have access to a structured development.
But for the essence of the academy to be sustainable, government and indeed, Rivers people must look beyond the euphoria of its establishment. Conscious efforts must be made now to enthrone practices that would help make the academy an enduring legacy.
It has been disclosed that priority is not placed on using the academy to make money. However, with the benefit of hindsight of the fate suffered by most government’s establishments, especially, after the exit of the initiator, the football academy needs a legal teeth on ways of contributing to its survival. For instance, football has become a big business in which young and good players are in demand all over the world. Sportsmen and women (footballers) have become foreign exchange earners when they are sold to clubs. One would therefore, not want the academy to be taken advantage of and be milked by selfish individuals.
Again, it will be profitable to explore ways to put the academy to further use. While its primary role would be grooming young talents in the game, adding coaches’ training department, where trainers and aspiring coaches would be trained in partnership with the mother academy in Spain will suffice.
Again, there should be deliberate plan in place to harness the expected products from the academy on graduation, such young talents are expected to thread a smooth passage, already charted by the academy to Real Madrid Football Club, other clubs in Europe, Americas or Asia.
Interesting, River people have been showering commendations on Governor Wike for the quality and speed with which the project is being delivered.
For the President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Honour Sirawoo, the Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt has further demonstrated the Governor’s desire to launch the State among top sports communities in the world. People, he said may not realise the full benefits of what the Governor has put on ground but in a few years, when the academy would be churning out world clans players that will take the game to a different level in the country and beyond, they would sit back and appreciate his vision.
Other stakeholders, including grassroots football coach, Sampson Oruwari, hailed the project, describing Governor Wike as a leader with special interest in providing platforms for manpower development, especially, the development of God given talent for empowerment and self emancipation
However, the football academy is not, and should not be seen as a magic bullet that would provide all the solutions and answers to problems or challenges facing the game or sports in Rivers State.
The academy is only one of numerous infrastructure needed to transform the state into a sports haven, where young people with talent in different fileds would be at home to develop and showcase themselves. Going forward, the Real Madrid Academy is a commendable trail blazer that will certainly lead to more good tidings for the sports sector.
Without losing sight of the import of numerous international, national and local sports activities and events that have been put together via the magnanimity of Governor Wike, there still exists ample room to take sports to greater heights in the State.
With what has been seen of Governor Wike’s passion for excellence, to say that sports in Rivers is in good hands would not be misplaced declaration.
However, with the state’s antecedent in sports like swimming, basketball, handball, hockey, weightlifting, wrestling, volleyball and athletics, Rivers must not be seen as only a football loving state. While upgrading and adequate maintenance of existing football infrastructure are needed, other events, particularly swimming, boxing and weightlifting need more investments.
Though the academy is expected to be run by an independent management with technical assistance from Real Madrid, local authorities have important roles to play.
The onus lies on the Ministry of Sports through the State’s Sports Council to key into the vision and passion of the Governor as far as sports development and promotion are concerned. Such facilities like the football academy should neither be under utilised nor be allowed to waste, even after Governor Wike must have bowed out of office.

Gabriel Nwanetanya

Sports

Forest Embarrass Liverpool At Anfield

Published

10 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Liverpool’s season of abject misery worsened as they were beaten with embarrassing ease by a hugely impressive Nottingham Forest at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Manchester City, but instead ran into a Forest side revitalised under new manager Sean Dyche and looking back to their best.

Liverpool head coach Slot gave £125m British record signing Alexander Isak a start, but he was totally anonymous once more and only lasted 67 minutes.

Forest went ahead after 33 minutes when defender Murillo shot powerfully past fit-again Liverpool keeper Alisson to subdue an already anxious Anfield.

Igor Jesus had a second ruled out for handball, but Forest doubled their advantage 39 seconds after the break when former Liverpool defender Neco Williams set up Nicola Savona for a crisp finish in front of The Kop.

Liverpool could barely raise a response in a desperate display, Forest increasing their lead 12 minutes from time when Morgan Gibbs-White scored after Alisson saved from Omari Hutchinson.

It means Liverpool, who lie 11th before Saturday’s late fixture, have now lost six of their past seven Premier League games as Slot’s near £450m summer spending spree comes under further scrutiny.

Forest, meanwhile, are surging away from the relegation zone and are up to 16th.

Sports

Bundesliga: Oliseh Stars As Bayern Rebound To Thrash Freiburg

Published

10 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Michael Olise scored twice and provided a hat-trick of assists as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich came from two goals down to thrash Freiburg.

The visitors stunned the defending champions by taking a 2-0 lead after just 17 minutes when Yuito Suzuki scored from close range and Johan Manzambi rose highest to head home Jan-Niklas Beste’s corner.

Bayern, who had not lost in the league since March, responded superbly and had restored parity by half-time.

Teenager Lennart Karl fired into the bottom corner from Olise’s pass in the 22nd minute and set up the Frenchman for a fierce finish in first-half injury-time, although Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu should have done better.

Bayern took control in the second period as Dayot Upamecano headed home Olise’s corner to put them ahead for the first time.

England captain Harry Kane netted his 14th league goal of the campaign on the hour mark, before Olise made it three assists when he threaded a pass through for Nicolas Jackson to finish at the first time of asking in the 78th minute.

Winger Olise completed a sensational afternoon with his second of the game six minutes later, driving at the Freiburg defence and curling into the far corner.

A 10th victory in the first 11 games left Bayern eight points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, while Freiburg remain 10th in the standings.

Vincent Kompany’s side visit Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday with both sides having a perfect record of four wins so far in the league phase of the competition.

AS FAR Morocco Win African Women’s Champions League (8)

AS FAR held firm to beat debutants ASEC Mimosas 2-1 in the African Women’s Champions League final and become continental champions for the second time.

Hanane Ait El Haj put the Moroccan club ahead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute after Safa Banouk had been tripped by Aboa Yapo.

ASEC Mimosas rallied after the break and Ami Priscal Diallo netted a fine header from Sopie Brou’s cross to drag the Ivory Coast club level 10 minutes into the second half.

But AS FAR were handed a second spot-kick in the closing stages when Noura Diarra committed a rash challenge on Sofia Bouftini.

This time it was Zineb Redouani who stepped up to stroke home in the 85th minute and restore her side’s lead.

Asastasie Gbehi came close to forcing extra time but she poked wide of the post in stoppage time, and the centre-back was sent off after the full-time whistle for dissent.

AS FAR move level with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns as two-time winners of the title, having first lifted the trophy in 2022.

The Rabat-based side will now take on Chinese’s Wuhan Jiangda on 14 December for a place at next year’s Fifa Women’s Champions Cup.

The winner of that match will face European champions Arsenal in the semi-finals of the inaugural competition early next year in London.

Sports

Barca Impress On Return To Camp Nou

Published

10 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga on Saturday with an emphatic win over 10-man Athletic Club in their first match at the Spotify Camp Nou since May 2023.

Robert Lewandowski scored their first goal back in their iconic home, which had been closed for extensive renovations, in the fourth minute.

Ferran Torres then netted twice in the second half, each assisted by wonderful skill from Lamine Yamal, who was aged just 15 in his only previous Nou Camp appearance.

Fermin Lopez also struck in the 48th minute, while visiting midfielder Oihan Sancet was sent off for a crude challenge on Lopez just six minutes later.

Large sections of the Nou Camp remained closed for the game, which was played in front of a 45,157 crowd.

The rebuilding work, which was originally scheduled to be finished in November 2024, will eventually increase the stadium’s capacity to 105,000.

Barca moved to 31 points from 13 games and top on goal difference, but Real Madrid had the chance to replace them, if they won at Elche in their game in hand, late last night.

Poland striker Lewandowski got his side off to the perfect start when he drove his low shot in off the arm of Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon for an eighth league goal of the season.

The home side extended their lead in first-half added time as Yamal’s superb pass off the outside of his foot set up Torres for a good finish.

Lopez made it 3-0 three minutes after the restart, drilling a shot past Simon from near the penalty spot.

Sancet’s tackle from behind on Lopez was initially deemed a yellow card, but upgraded to red after the referee consulted with the video assistant referee (VAR).

And just before full-time, Yamal twisted and turned before sending Torres away to claim his second goal, which was originally disallowed for offside but overturned following a VAR check.

It was a dream return to their ground, with the reigning Spanish champions having mostly played at the 55,000 capacity Olympic Stadium on the city’s Montjuic hill since renovations on the Nou Camp began in June 2023.

They were forced to play two matches at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium, home to their women’s team, this season after failing to get a permit for the Nou Camp through safety reasons.

Pogba Returns To Action In Ligue 1 (6)

Paul Pogba played his first minutes of professional football in more than two years as he came off the bench during Monaco’s 4-1 defeat by Rennes at the weekend.

The 32-year-old was introduced in the 85th minute at Rennes’ Roazhon Park, though his side were already four goals and a player down, following a red card for captain Denis Zakaria.

French World Cup winner Pogba broke down in tears when he joined Ligue 1 club Monaco last summer, after his four-year doping ban was reduced to 19 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

Pogba’s last competitive appearance was 811 days ago, when he featured for Juventus in a Serie A match against Empoli on 3 September 2023. He left Juventus by mutual consent in November 2024.

Pogba was provisionally banned from football for four years after a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in February 2024, following a doping test in August 2023.

Pogba maintained it was a mistake and that he was given a supplement without knowing it contained a banned substance.

The former Manchester United midfielder was permitted to return to football in March following the decision to reduce his ban.

Pogba watched from the bench as goals from Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Camara, Breel Embolo and Ludovic Blas put Rennes out of sight.

Fellow substitute Mika Biereth pulled a goal back for Monaco in the 95th minute, but a second consecutive 4-1 defeat means Sebastien Pocognoli’s side drop to eighth in the table with 20 points after 13 games.