Sports
Football Agent Calls For Investment In Youths
An International football agent, Ato Ubby, yesterday urged well-meaning Nigerians at home and abroad to invest in youths to save humanity and build a better nation.
Ubby, who gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, added that youths in Nigeria have lots of potentials and requires just a little push.
He emphasised that material wealth in itself is not worth having unless it serves humanity.
He said that every child was endowed with potential and talent that needed to be actualised.
According to him, investing positively in humans is the biggest investment one can achieve in life because people will live better and become happier.
“We need help more in Nigeria, that is why I come home regularly to help people. Growing up in lack is difficult. So, I understand what it’s like to be poor and this is my way of bringing life to people.
“I was playing football and somebody saw me and helped me, now I am doing the same. I have picked and helped countless young talented footballers, who have made it today and this gives me joy.
“I also invest in their lives by showing them how to make the right investments and reminded them that they cannot play football forever.
“For me, it’s like a chain, like they say; one good turn deserves another, if I give a hand, and that hand gives his hand and it goes on and on, the world would be a better place’’, he said.
Ubby appealed to youths to identify their worth and pursue their dreams instead of waiting for someone to employ them.
He also urged them to avoid over dependence on government for employment, adding that they should expand their potential so as to be employers of labour.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.