Based in Otukpo, Benue State, Salem FC travelled all the way to Lagos for a day scouting tournament put together by Braves Sports Academy in conjunction with Reigns Soccer Agency and GG10 Management Agency in a bid to help players of its academy despite the challenges of managing teams at that level in the country.
Sports247 caught up with the coach of the side Agada Noah at the Air Force base Ikeja as the teams struggled for victory and he explained what it meant to manage teams in the grassroots.
“It’s not been a bad competition. We came faced a few hurdles on the road down here but glad we arrived here a few days ago,” Noah said.
“We are a grassroots football team and the financial problem around the country is a problem for us as well and we’re just managing to put the boys in order because it’s not easy to manage a grassroots team as there is not much sponsorship’” he added.
Speaking on the numerous talents embedded in the country and how they have been used, the coach said, “of course we have talents, but government don’t recognize the grassroots. We have a lot of well-doing men and women that can take up some of these burdens but they’re not helping as well. A club like us that travelled from Benue, transportation, accommodation, feeding and so on is not easy for one person to handle.”
He however stated that knowing fully well they are doing the right thing, the motivation lies in the fact that one day they will hit the right button and things will fall in place afterwards.
