Sports academies can nurture grassroot talents to stardom-Ex-international
By Olatunde Ajayi
A former Nigerian international footballer, Dr Felix Owolabi, has described sports academies as veritable tools for nurturing raw talents into global sports professionals.
Owalabi stated this on Thursday in Ibadan, at the closing of a special August football camp for young talents organised by Femben PrepToPro Football Academy.
The ex-Green Eagles player and 1980 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner further described sports academy as a beacon of hope in shaping the future of sports development in Nigeria.
He said that the Femben PrepToPro Football Academy came at the right time when Nigeria was struggling in the development of its football and other areas of sports.
Owalabi noted that a great percentage of great players all over the world and generations of past legends came through grassroots sports development programmes.
“We have been clamouring for grassroots development; the obvious reason is that past football legends were able to get to the top because they started through such setups.
“The gradual disappearance of school sports competitions and other veritable sports programmes where grassroots talents could be discovered, groomed, and polished for future opportunities is worrisome.”
He commended the convener of the academy for his contribution to grassroots sports.
“I must commend the convener of Femben Football Academy for his dedication and commitment to the development of grassroots sports in Nigeria.
“We must embrace this kind of programme and have it spread all over the country among school children, particularly during the holidays and weekends.
“Doing so will lead to the discovery of the greatest and best talents that can represent Nigeria in both local and international games, “he said.
The guest speaker at the event, Coach Femi Amusan, charged the participants to set a projection of where they want to be in the next five years.
Amusan stated that through discipline, dedication, and determination, they would achieve their dreams.
One of the participants, Monjolaoluwa Are, said that the football camp gave participants the privilege to relate to internationally recognised licensed experienced coaches and ex-professional footballers.
Are, who doubles as the camp captain, added that the football camp was impactful and embedded with both on and off-field training.
The convener of Femben PreToPro Football Camp, Coach Femi Olatunji, said that the aim of the academy was to properly develop and prepare talents for professionalism.
Olatunji stated that it has always been a challenge for some talents to maximise opportunities to become accomplished athletes due to a lack of training to cope with the technicality and tactical aspects of the game.
“It is all about preparation for professionalism; we prepare the participants for what we expect that they will meet in the journey of football.
“We have been doing this since 2018 at our headquarters in South Africa; the August edition is the third one in Nigeria, “he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 25 participants graduated from the August edition of the football camp. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
