Victor Onyekachukwu Nwenwe, the National Technical Director of the Nigerian Amputee Football Federation, has shed light on the tremendous potential within the nation’s amputee football scene, emphasizing the urgent need for financial support to propel the team onto the global stage.
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Formerly the head coach of the national amputee team, Nwenwe recounted their commendable performances in African national championships, with a standout moment in the 2019 finals in Angola where Nigeria secured a remarkable second place against the world champion, Angola, on their home turf.
While Nigeria boasts a pool of talented amputee footballers, Nwenwe highlighted the glaring challenge of financial constraints that has hindered the nation’s progress in comparison to some African counterparts. He lamented, “Our greatest challenge is finance. It is as if most of the African countries have overtaken Nigeria because we don’t have enough support.”
In a fervent plea, Nwenwe appealed to private bodies, individuals, corporate organizations, and non-governmental organizations to rally behind amputee football in Nigeria. The lack of funds, he explained, has limited Nigerian players from showcasing their skills on a global scale, unlike their counterparts who ply their trade professionally in countries like Turkey, Germany, England, and Brazil.
“Amputee football is a beautiful game that is played all over the world,” Nwenwe emphasized, drawing attention to the international success of African players. He stressed the untapped potential of Nigerian players, expressing a vision for them to compete at the highest levels with the right financial backing.
As Nigeria’s amputee football team strives for excellence, Nwenwe’s call for support resonates as a crucial appeal to pave the way for the nation’s amputee players to compete and shine on the global football stage.
