Italy-Based Brothers Plan To Start ‘Football Centre Of Excellence’

The successful completion of the maiden FRITISH Football Championship at Olympic Field, Ijesha-Amuwo has led the three sponsors, Italy-based brothers, Friday and Timothy Ebeye, as well as their childhood friend, David Opeyemi (aka Shola Garba) into thinking about floating a youth centre of excellence.

Fresh from the highly successful venture into youth football competition sponsorship, with one of their youth days’ coaches, Omeotte Athan (aka Coach Lapa) as chairman of the organizing committee, the trio is now coming out with another, this time a more expansive and extensive, plan for the discovery of hidden talents.

Such an exciting gathering it was at the same ground where former Super Eagles’ vice-captain, John Ugochukwu Ogu (Suker) grew through the ranks, while playing under ‘Coach Lapa’ at Mighty Starlets, and lots of memories were recreated, while forecasts for the future unfolded.

So soon after the inaugural competition was concluded this past Saturday, with Super Angels FC of Olodi-Apapa (i.e. Ajegunle) emerging champions via 5-3 penalties against Young Starlets FC of Ijesha-Amuwo, following a goalless end to regulation time, the latest plan from the three pals is a venture that would see kids from various clubs come under one umbrella on a weekly basis.

It was gathered on authority that the new venture, which is expected to be officially known as FRITISH Football Centre of Excellence, will be based at Community School, Ikotun, Lagos – but it will draw young players and secondary school students from far and wide across the Lagos metropolis.

Among the foundation talents to be groomed by the new project, with mutual agreement for their official release by their various clubs, are FIRTISH Cup 2021 top scorer, Mandela Itodo, who netted nine goals but none in the final, and his team’s captain, Adekunle Irinyemi.

From the losing finalists, their agile goalkeeper, Uloma Ikechukwu gets the nod for his invitation alongside Aminu Idris, Peter Oladimeji, Omotayo Shogo and Thomas Ude among others, while the third-placed team, Young Stars of Satellite Town, will provide three of their best players.

The youth club, which produced Racing Genk of Belgium sensation, Paul Ebere Onuachu and is coached by Osahon Emokpae, best Mighty Starlet of Ijesha-Amuwo 7-6 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw at regulation time, with Abraham Emmanuel scoring first after just three minutes of play, but Ismail Bakare drew the hosts level from the spot with his sixth goal of the competition.

The third-place game, which was tagged losers’ final by ace journalist and commentator of the day, Raymond Nwaduba, was followed by a ceremonial match between two schools, which are now expected to be part of the foundation structure of FRITISH Football Centre of Excellence, as they showcased the quality of younger talents outside the championship itself.

Brightfield College of Agege won the game 2-0, with goals from Emmanuel Ebuka (who converted a sixth-minute penalty) and towering attacker, Chukwunonso Obi, as the students’ squad handled by Ason Lucky and Osetayo Johnson defied their late arrival to silence the exuberance of Will-B Excellence Secondary School of Ikotun, led by Basil Nwoye and Coach Muri.

Other revelations from Brightfield College included Tochi Nwalima, Bobby Ufomadu, Tomiwa Adefula, Ugo Uzor, Ade James and their agile goalkeeper, Tobe Lazarus, while those from Will-B were Matthew Akiode, Favour Philip, David Nnayere, Femi Adeshola, Muiz Olarewaju, Victor Adeshola, Damola Bamigboye, Israel Ariwoola and their amiable shot-stopper, Shuaib Olatunji.

They all held captivated the audience, which included the chairman of Badagry Referees Society, Prince Durosimi Yusuf Adewale, leader of Amuwo-Odofin Football Coaches Council, Coach Tella Rasheed, and the secretary of Badagry Divisional Football Association, Mr Raymond Akaluogbo.

Also present were Coach Osondu Matthias (secretary, Oto-Awori Football Coaches Council), Coach Ifeanyi Ikpo Moss (leader, Alimosho Football Coaches Council), coordinator of Olympia Africa, Mr Malik and secretary-general of Nigerian Grassroots Football Federation (NGFF), Mr Oscar Ezinwa Emmanuel.

The NGFF scribe used the occasion to inform the gathering about the advent of a new competition tagged Grassroots Super-4 Challenge, which will be among champions of two other ventures he has been involved with – AWO Cup and Amala Cup.

He announced that the date will soon be picked for the contest, which will bring together Sartek FC and MS Success from Amala Cup with Asisat Oshoala Foundation from AWO Cup to confront the maiden FRITISH Cup champions, Super Angels FC at the same venue of Saturday’s epic final.

That would provide another level of unity among coaches, players and officials of various clubs associated with the FRITISH venture, which is coined from the initial letters in the names of the three sponsors – Friday, TImothy and SHola – which they also aim to propagate through the proposed centre of excellence, which will involve training on the pitch and youth seminars.

It was gathered further that the centre, which will have their coach, Omoette Athan as technical director, is a concept that would be akin to National Grassroots Dream Team, the defunct youth football development venture promoted by NGFF, which all three sponsors played for at various points in time before travelling abroad, but has become moribund due to lack of sponsorship.

During its glorious strides across Lagos State and beyond, the articulated, respected and highly acclaimed centre of excellence produced Stephen Ayodele Makinwa (SS Lazio of Italy), Ifeanyi Emeghara (Steaua Bucharest of Romania) and Kazeem Ayila (Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine), who all played for the Super Eagles.

Also from the NGFF stables that went on to play for the Eagles were Kelvin Onyekachi Amuneke (FC Porto of Portugal), Sunday Stephen (Valencia of Spain) and Ebenezer Oluwafemi Ajilore (FC Midtjylland of Denmark) as well as Nnamdi Oduamadi (AC Milan of Italy), while those who got youth national team caps included Benjamin Chukwuka Onwuachi (Juventus of Italy).

The same applied for Philip Chidi Onyemah (Rio Ave of Portugal), Charlibe Okolie (Cantonezia of Italy), Seyi Adeleke (Lazio of Italy) and Benin Republic B-international, Shakiru Abikoye, who is now based in France after playing in Oman and Ethiopia.

Among the coaches that made things happen in a big way for the Grassroots, All Stars’ squad were late Anthony Onuoha (Chief), Gabriel Chijioke Osuagwu, Osahon Emokpae, Chijioke ‘Iyke’ Anyaji, Ahji Gade Idowu and Hyginus Okoye, while their voluntary officials also included Alhaji Agboola Dabiri, Oscar Emmanuel, Olisemeka Obi, Dr Ken Egbas and Ariyo Adekunle Ashiwaju.

Time will now tell if FRITISH Football Centre of Excellence will be able to follow the example laid by the National Grassroots Dram Team, which created huge marks on the sands of time from its training grounds at White Sand Field at Orile-Iganmu area and Government College Lagos, which is located along Eric Moore Road, Surulere.

However, when contacted for comments on the forthcoming venture, Friday Ebeye opted not to speak on the matter, as he said nothing has been discussed officially among ‘The FRITISH Three,’ and he chose instead to reel out words of gratitude to everyone that made the first of its kind 10-team competition a huge success from April 7 to May 1, 2021.

Ebeye senior stated: “Thanks to God for the successful organization of the maiden edition of FRITISH Football Championship. Thanks to all the teams that participated and everyone who made it possible too, by contributing one way or the other. God richly bless you all.

“Shout out to all my guys; I appreciate you all for all your support too for supporting FRITISH Sports International. And, finally, congratulations once more again to Super Angels, Young Starlets and Young Stars (for finishing first, second and third respectively).”