NLO signs pact with Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation to float Youth League Super Cup

 

Nigeria Nationwide League One has successfully signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation led by its Founder/ President High Chief Summers Nwokie towards staging the maiden edition of NLO Youth League Super Cup Championship in Owerri, Imo State.

Both put pen on the MoU on Friday at the corporate office of Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation in the presence of NLO top brass, His Excellency, Silas Agara, Chief Operating Officer, Olushola Ogunnowo, officials of Imo Football Association, Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation and journalists.

In his welcome address during the epoch making occasion the Founder/ President, Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation, High Chief Summers Nwokie said it was his passion for football and humanitarian commitments that has compelled him to sponsor the NLO Super Cup Championship and it was borne out of the success story of his pet club, Ikukuoma FC of Mbaise, Imo State. 

The grassroots football philanthropist gave an account of what he has done to advance the cause of grassroot football including sponsorship of notable competitions within Mbaise and Owerri zone and he also canvassed for the support of other well meaning Nigerians to ensure grassroot football continue to flourish.

"It is for the love of soccer and a prioritized social responsibility in line with my humanitarian commitments, that prompted my resolve to sponsor the NLO Super Cup billed for early September.

"The enviable success of my pet football club, Ikukuoma FC at the just concluded Nationwide League One Under 19 Youth League held in Awka, Anambra State has energized and boosted my commitment to grassroots football with 80 percent of the players in my team products of my tournament (Ikukuoma Mbaise Unity Cup Tournament and Secondary Schools Football Competition).

"I want to use this medium to urge other well meaning Nigerians to get involved in the development of these laudable sports so as to enable the country to attain its expected height in world football," High Chief Nwokie said.

In his own opening remarks, NLO Chief Agara described Imo State as his second home, as he commended High Chief Summers Nwokie for his giant strides in grassroot football and added that the NLO's doors are wide open for collaborations with people like the President of Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation to help take the league to greater height. 

The former Deputy Governor, Nasarawa State opined that the new watchword of the NLO is to ensure that players from grassroots clubs in the Nigeria Nationwide League form the bedrock of the national youth teams in the near future and that different steps have been taken to ensure the NLO has a more professional approach.

"Imo State is like a home coming. It is my second home and I feel proud to identify with people from Imo State," Agara began. 

"I stand boldly on behalf of the Nigeria Nationwide League One to identify with my brother High Chief Summers Nwokie who has taken this bold step to partner with the NLO and also to put smiles on the faces of our young footballers from all the parts of Nigeria. It is what we expect from those God has blessed so that they can open the doors for others. 

"Sports is a big industry and it can accommodate the teeming Nigerian youths by deeply engaging them in a meaningful way that they can add to that development. 

"High Chief Summers Nwokie has honoured the NLO and I wish to honour him in the same manner. When I see someone that is into grassroot sports I have a passion to relate with such a person. 

"Our passion in the NLO is to make sure that the crop of the national youth team players come from the grassroots clubs. Clubs that are from the NLO. 

"If we can get it right in the NLO, then we can begin to change the way the NNL and NPFL clubs are run. NLO is happy to partner and open a new chapter with you. The MoU we have signed we go a long way to show what we can do together for football."

Agara further tasked Imo State to take her place of pride in the South East and he challenged the President of Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation to help with the rebirth of grassroots football in the South East for the good of the game.

"Imo is the home of football. Football is not new to Imo State. The state has produced great national players for Nigeria. It is time to go back to the old days where those players emerged from grassroots clubs. I believe Imo can take her rightful position in the South East with the likes of High Chief Summers Nwokie," Agara continued.

"I want to challenge High Chief Nwokie to change the face of grassroot football in the South East if others that God has blessed can't do it. He should do it. A token sent to other states in the South East can help to change its face in the zone. NLO will be willing to support you and bring the weight of the NFF behind you."

NLO set to kickoff 2nd NLO/Berackiah Grassroot Coaching Clinic

 

Secretariat of the Nationwide League One says all logistics have been put in place to ensure a smooth commencement of the second edition of the NLO/Berackiah Grassroot Coaching Clinic.

The five days grassroot football coaching clinic will kickoff simultaneously on 15th to 20th February at the catchment area of Lagos, Otukpo (Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba), Birini Kebbi (Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamafara), Awka (Anambra, Eboyin, Enugu, Abia, Delta and Imo) and Uyo (Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, Delta and Cross Rivers).

In a statement from the media department of the NLO, it's Chairman, Mohammed Alkali said: "The NLO is set to hit the new season running with the 2nd NLO/Berackiah Grassroot Coaching Clinic, which is aimed at equipping coaches in the league with the new trends in football coaching. 

"This followed the successes recorded in the maiden edition of the football clinic. In this year's edition, the technical aspect of the game will be the crux of the lectures which will be practical based.

"Our coaches will be lectured by some highly qualified and respected tutors we have selected to come impact in them the acts of winning matches at the end bringing the best out of their players.

"I want to further urge all our coaches present  to make the most out of this coaching clinic as no knowledge is lost, as they have a lot to learn. As they say, a coach is rated based on his/her last result."

Eminent football coach, High Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, former Super Eagles Head Coach and a FIFA/CAF retired instructor will lead other qualified resource persons, such as coach Adesina Asunmo, King Emmanuel, Moses, Alphonsus Dike, John Obuh, Maikaba Fagge, Justin Madugu, Haruna Usman Ilerika, Evans Ogenyi and host of others for the laudable project.

Recall in 2021, the NLO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Berackiah Grassroots Coaching Clinic to help develop the skills of its league coaches which in turn would assure the broad development of the game as well as the talents spread across the nation.

'Use sports to curb insecurity - Pillar of Sports urges traditional rulers

Nigeria Pillar Of Sports Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike has urged Traditional Rulers across the country to use Sports as a veritable tool to fight against the growing rate of insecurity in the Country.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on the Traditional ruler of Nanka kingdom in Anambra His Royal Highness Igwe Godwin Ogochukwu Ezeilo ( Obu Nanka) , Chief Ejidike said Sports remain a platform to meaningfully engage the Youths .

According to him "Nigeria today is no longer safe, simply because vast majority of our young Youths are not gainfully engaged and employed, Sports remain a veritable platform to accommodate these teeming youths" , he said.

The Pillar Of Sports added that " I feel tremendously happy that a Traditional Rulers like Igwe Nanka has shown the way by sponsoring the inaugural edition of YSFON/Igwe Nanka U-17 tournament  , I therefore urged other Traditional Rulers to emulate him and use Sports to engage the Youths in their various domain"

He assured that the office of the Nigeria Pillar Of Sports is ever ready to partner with Traditional institutions, corporate bodies and well meaning Nigerians who wish to promote Youths and Sports Development. 

Chief Ejidike was the special guest of honour at the grand finale of the Igwe Nanka football tournament at NEROS stadium in Nanka organised by YSFON in Anambra state.