Academy Coach Solicits Support For Grassroots Football

The Head Coach of Medal lion Football Academy of Port Harcourt, Johnson Daniel, has called on Rivers State Government and former international football players to come and  support  grassroots football by sponsoring competitions at the  local level. 
He stated that, if the youth are purely engaged in sporting activities in the local levels it will take their minds off negative activities, adding that lack of activities today in the grassroots has pushed the youth into different things.
Daniel made the call on Wednesday in a chat with Tidesports, briefly after their training session at the number one field football pitch, old Port Harcourt Township.
According to him, some of the coaches who are coaching in the grassroots today are not doing it because  of finance, but they are doing it in the interest of children.
“The government and ex-internationals should come out fully to promote the grassroots football by sponsoring competition.
Some of us are not doing it because of the money,  but we are doing it in the interest of the children.
My main aim is to take their (children’s) focus off the street and to engage them to something meaningful in the society.
Today,  a lot of youths had turned to some social vices, but if there are tournaments going on around them, I think their attention will be focused on the tournament,” Daniel said.
He commended the Rivers State Government for bringing Real Madrid Football Academy to the state, saying that it is a plus to the state.
“ I think the Rivers State Real Madrid Football Academy is a plus to the children in the state.”
It is a step in the right direction I commend Gov Nyesom Wike that great move,” he concluded.

By: Kiadum Edookor