Football: Ebonyi Govt Assures Local Players of Opportunities in Abakaliki FC

Commissioner for youth and sports, Ebonyi state, Hon. Richard Idike

By Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State Government has assured that outstanding players discovered through ongoing grassroots football competitions across the state’s 13 local government areas will be given opportunities to feature for the state-owned club, Abakaliki FC.

The government further disclosed that locally developed talents would make up as much as 90 per cent of the squad for Abakaliki FC ahead of the next Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

The Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Hon. Richard Idike, made this known while addressing journalists during the official flag-off of the FON Youth Movement Ebonyi North Constituency Football Competition.

The tournament, sponsored by Chief Chikadoli Ojemba, took place at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki.

According to the commissioner, while grassroots football differs significantly from professional football in terms of tactics, discipline, and technical requirements, Ebonyi State is blessed with abundant raw talent capable of thriving at the national level with proper grooming.

“Professional football is different from local football; it comes with its own techniques and demands. However, we have very good players here. What they need is further training and exposure to be able to represent the state effectively in the Nigeria National League,” Idike said.

He explained that the state government, through the Ministry of Youths and Sports, is closely monitoring all grassroots competitions, including those organised by clubs such as Enviable FC and Darlington FC, with the aim of assembling the best talents for Abakaliki FC and its feeder team.

“At the end of all these competitions, we will assemble the best local players. Our technical team is watching every match, and we assure the players that outstanding performers will be given the opportunity to compete for jerseys in Abakaliki FC or its feeder team,” he added.

Idike, however, noted that player recruitment at the moment is limited due to the ongoing NNL season.

“As it stands now, we are already midway into the season, and it is at this stage that teams can only make limited additions,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation, Comrade Emerike Chinedu, who represented the organisers of the FON Unity Football Competition, assured that the tournament would be expanded to cover all 13 local government areas of the state in subsequent editions.

“We have mapped out plans to ensure the continuity of this competition and to extend it to all the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State. Football is a powerful unifying factor and a veritable platform for engaging our youths positively,” he said.

Insideoutnews gathered that the competition comes with attractive prize money, as the eventual champions will go home with ₦5 million, while the second- and third-placed teams will receive ₦3 million and ₦2 million, respectively.