Grassroots football in Akwa Ibom State will receive a boost with the recent plans and programmes unveiled in Uyo, by Mr. Marshal Mbre, a former professional football player and FIFA licenced agent/intermediary.
According to Mr Mbre, a Principal Partner of Flying Sports Football Academy, based in Lagos, the need to invest in and develop football at the grassroots level in his home state is necessary to identify, select, collate, polish and project the abundant talents that abound in the State having been in the business for years with over 340 successful players transfer to his name.
At a parley with sports media personalities in Uyo, the former Mobil Pegasus FC of Eket and Reggina FC of Italy midfield maestro unveiled a package that wraps his football plans for 2021 in Akwa Ibom State. His blueprint captures plans, which include;
1) To organize seminars and workshops to raise the awareness level of all football stakeholders at the grassroots level.
2) To Host a Coaching Clinic Coaches, which would involve Lectures from renowned CAF/FIFA instructors to update and equip indigenous football tacticians.
3) To put in place an effective and hitch-free mechanism for the organization football leagues and tournaments aimed to discover football talents for a national and international exposition in conjunction with the Akwa Ibom State Football Association.
4) To Commence in Conjunction with the Football Association an Akwa Ibom state Grassroot League.
The widely traveled, highly exposed, and professionally equipped native of Afia Nsit, in Eket LGA, acknowledged that Always Ibom is blessed with a lot of football talents who with the new Incentive have adequate platforms for fulfilling their dreams of becoming professional players. He pledged his determination to ensure that the state is transformed into a football hub: a destination for the football scouts.
Mr. Mbre, who is the President of FESTAC Allstars FC, Lagos confessed to being positive about the unveiled plans, with the responses gotten from the various (official) personalities and institutions met with. He lauded the partnership with Hon. Emmanuel Ibah-led Akwa Ibom State Football Association (AKS FA), appreciated the warm reception by the States Ministry of Youth and Sports ably led by Sir Monday Ebong Uko, Rt. Hon. Nse Essien (Chairman, AKHA Committee on Security, Youths and Sports) and applauded counsels by football stakeholders, met so far.
With these lofty plans for football at the grassroots level billed to be activated in 2021, here is a clarion call for passionate private and business entities to identify with the development of football at the grassroots level, Football is a Lucrative Venture. Let’s build together.
