By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
The Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has pledged that outstanding footballers discovered from grassroots competitions across the state will be integrated into the Abakaliki FC feeder team.
During the opening match, Ebonyi North East played out a thrilling 3–3 draw against Ohaukwu South East.
The governor made the pledge while addressing journalists during the flag-off ceremony of the FON Youth Movement Ebonyi North Constituency Competition, sponsored by Chief Chikadoli Ojemba, and held at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki.
Governor Nwifuru, who was represented at the event by the State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Prince Richard Ugo-Idike, described football as a unifying force and commended the organisers of the competition for providing a platform to discover and nurture young talents.
The Commissioner expressed confidence that Ebonyi indigenous players would soon dominate Abakaliki FC, noting that while professional football requires more than raw talent, many gifted players in the state only need proper training and exposure to compete at higher levels.
He explained that Abakaliki FC currently operates both a main team and a feeder team, with full approval and support from the state government.
According to him, although player registration is limited to the beginning of the season, the club is actively scouting talents from ongoing competitions such as the Enviable
Tournament, FON Youth competition, Darlington Football and other local teams within the state, with plans to integrate them into the team by next season.
He assured that by the next football season, about ninety percent of Abakaliki FC players would be Ebonyi indigenes.
Speaking earlier, the National President of the FON Youth Movement and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation, Comrade Chinedu Emerike Orji, commended Governor Nwifuru for his consistent support for youth empowerment and sports development in the state.
Comrade Emerike said the initiative was aimed at bringing youths together to promote peace, unity and mutual understanding, adding that the competition would be expanded beyond Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone in subsequent editions to accommodate more youths across the state.
The FON Youth Ebonyi North Zone sports competition, sponsored by Chief Chikaodili Ojemba, has the winner going home with a prize of three million naira, while the second and third positions will receive two million naira and two million, five hundred thousand naira respectively.