League: Outstanding Players Will Be Absorbed Into Abakaliki FC Feeder Team, Gov. Nwifuru Pledges

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru has pledged to integrate outstanding footballers from grassroots competitions across the state into the Abakaliki FC feeder team.

The governor made the promise while addressing journalists during the flag-off ceremony of the FON Youth Movement Ebonyi North constituency Football Competition sponsored by Chief Chikaodili Ojemba and held at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki.

Governor Nwifuru who was represented at the event by the State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Prince Richard Idike described football as a unifier and commend organizer of the event. The state Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports expressed confidence that Ebonyi indigenous players would soon dominate Abakaliki FC, noting that while professional football requires more than raw talent, many gifted players in the state only need proper training and exposure to compete at higher levels.

He explained that the club currently operates both a main team and a feeder team, with full approval and support from the state government. According to him, although player registration is limited to the beginning of the season, the club is actively scouting talents from ongoing competitions such as the Enviable Tournament and other local teams within the state, with a plan to integrate them by next season. He assured that by the next football season, about ninety percent of Abakaliki FC players would be Ebonyi indigenes. Speaking earlier, the National President of the FON Youth Movement and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilization, Comrade Chinedu Emerike Orji, commended Governor Nwifuru for his consistent support for youth empowerment and sports development in the state. Comrade Emerike, who is also the organizer of the football competition, said the initiative was aimed at bringing youths together to promote peace, unity and mutual understanding. He further assured that the competition would be expanded beyond Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone in subsequent editions to accommodate more youths across the state. He revealed that the winer of the competition would go home with three million, second position two million and third position rewarded with two million and five hundred thousand naira. The match ended on a thrilling 3-3 against Ohaukwu team.