The first ever Football Symposium as convened by Smart Sparrowz Youth Foundation International in partnership with Anambra State Football Association happened today at the Fides Complex Okpuno Awka to establish the challenges of football at the grassroot. The symposium had in attendance a representative of Club owners Association, LFC Chairmen, Referee’s Association, Media, Coaches Association, Players Union, Match Commissioners and Fans.
The Symposium thanked the Anambra Sports Commission Chairman, Mr Patrick Onyedum who was unavoidably absent but represented Mr Akaa Chika who is a Director at the Sports Commission. The Symposium also appreciated the giant strides of the Anambra Football Association under the current chairman, Gen. Chikelue Iloenyosi.
Clement Onejeme, CEO of Smart Sparrowz Youth Foundation International thanked all for the coming. He also emphasized the importance of the symposium which is geared identifying the problems of Anambra state with regards to Sports but football in particular while giving sustainable solutions to improve the sector in the state.
The moderator of the program who doubles as the. Chairman of Anambra Independent Football League, Rev Fr Obinna Dike thanked the convener for the initiative as he threw the floor open for participants to mention some of the challenges to grassroot development in the state.
Identified were Age, Facilities, Health, Regulations, Structure, Standard, Packaging/Commercialization and Scouting.
A respected football administrator Opia Obiakor mentioned the fact there is no sports foundation without grassroot development. He thanked the Sports commission for reviving school sports and urged them to be intentional with their approach now.
Amechi Nwakaeze pointed out the fact that we lack major scouting programs in the state unlike most states in Nigeria. He enumerated the benefits of consistent scouting exercise for academies as evident in Lagos where he is based.
Fr Damian Ogwata, the Vice Chairman of AIFL raised the issue of regulations across board citing Coaches as example. He mentioned that it is important that anyone that goes by the name coach and practices in the state should join the association. This will help make an even distribution of information among coaches easier.
A renowned grassroot coach, Donatus Ezeokafor mentioned that Government should help out in giving subvention to local academies for survival. He also pointed on the need for the FA to facilitate scouting exercise while also suggesting that respective clubs should engage professionals for proper packaging of their teams.
A media guru, Ikem Asika thanked all for coming, he mentioned the fact that we lack structure in the state because we haven’t had sports people at the helm of affairs.
Onejeme mentioned that we have to be robust in our deliberation. He pointed out the fact that people are free to disagree and criticize constructively which will now make us to come to a common ground.
Fr Obinna Dike through the suggestion of Fr Ogwatta distributed participants into groups to discuss various problems that were identified and proofer solutions in their discussion and share with the general group within 15 minites. The participants were then shared into respective groups.
The Conversation started with structure. The group charged with that topic gave an overview of their deliberation on the topic. From there conversation began as everybody gave their opinions on what structure is. The Anambra FA Chairman Gen. Chikelue Iloenyosi thanked all for coming as he mentioned what his structure is all about. He hampered on the need for everyone to be on the same page and encouraged those saddled with football responsibility to be effective.
The LFC Chairman of Awka South, Mr Christian Ofili expressed his joy in being part of this program. He talked about the shortness of notice while he mentioned on the need for Local Football Council Chairmen to be meritorious in carrying out their activities. He explained how a solid football structure can be maintained in the state if majority of the LFC Chairmen understand and carry out their responsibilities accordingly.
Many gave their opinions on what structure is all about and the house agreed that football stakeholders should unite in moving the game ahead. The discussion on this age challenge covered the parents consent aspect. How a coach can approach a parent of an identified talent so that it won’t cause misunderstanding in the future, was a explained. The owner of Olive Charles Academy, Charles Ndigwe explained further on how to go about parent/talent consent as he advised some club owners on how to get around this particular topic.
The Sports Commission Director, Mr Aka Chika thanked the convener of the Symposium. He extended the regards of the Chairman of the commission, MrPatrick Onyedum. Aka went on to share his idea of what structure is all about, he explained the role of government in football. He emphasized on the need that teams that need Government intervention should go through proper channel.
The LFC Chairman of Onitsha South Mr Larry Akanna appreciated the minds behind the symposium. He pleaded with those saddled with responsibility to carry out their function and responsibilities diligently to be in tandem with the vision of Anambra FA Chairman.
The Secretary of Awka South Referee Council “Senior Man” pointed out the wrong impression people are having about how someone can be become a professional official. He was of the opinion that officiating process has to start from a tender age as against popular opinion that anyone who doesn’t make it a professional footballer can fall back to refereeing at any age. He gave reasons to back up his stand. He also mentioned the fact that there are many untrained and unprofessional arbiters marauding in the state as he advised stakeholders to go through proper channel in getting who will oversee their games.
An IT specialist, Greatness Chibuzor argued that it’s not the main priority of the government or FA to cater for club sides. He further advised club owners in the state to commericalize their brands. That if they do, they clubs won’t be needing external support financially all the time.
The Symposium unanimously appointed Opia Obiakor as the Chairman to pilot the affairs, with Mr Joseph Obiy Umudu as Vice and Myckie Chukwuebuka as the Secretary. This steering committee will be saddled with the responsibility of convening the next meeting and setting agendas.
