‘FC Ifeanyi Ubah will be role model’

PRESIDENT, FC IfeanyiUbah, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, has said that the major aim of the management of the club is to make it a reference point for football clubs in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

Dr Ubah made this known while addressing journalists during a press conference to intimate the public about the partnership between the club and West Ham United FC of England at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Wednesday.

“Our number one priority is football development, We at FC IfeanyiUbah believe Nigeria as a country is endowed with football talents and should be able to produce 10 players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano  Ronaldo in the next four years. And this is the reason we are establishing a world-class football academy in Nnewi, Anambra State. We have also decided to enter into partnership with West Ham United FC, being the only professional football club that has the best football academy in the world.

“Also, as a businessman, I am looking at the business aspect of football. The transfer fee of a player to any major professional football club in Europe may amount to the monthly allocation of a local  and state goverment combined in Nigeria. Therefore, we are thinking of exploring the business opportunities in the football circle.

“Hence, our resolve to engage football scouts from West Ham to come to Nigeria and see one or two players who can fit into the system outside the shores of the country, so the money from those transfers will definitely play a key role in the development of the Nigerian economy,” he said.

Managing Director, West Ham United, Angus Kinnear, while speaking on the occasion, said: “I thank Dr Ifeanyi Ubah for this great initiative and I want to on behalf of all of us at West Ham United pledge our continued support for this laudable project.

“We all know that football benefits  the society at all levels and that is why we are starting with grassroot football. We want children to enjoy football and it is also a known fact that we have the best football academy in the world, this I believe will go a long way in making the partnership between FC IfeanyiUbah and West Ham United a worthwhile one”.

Present on the occasion were: Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, Chairman League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko, President General, Nigeria Football and other sports supporters club, Dr Rafiou Ladipo, ex-internationals which included: Joseph Yobo, peter Rufay, Victor Ikpeba, Ifeanyi Udeze, Julius Agahowa, Victor Agali to mention a few.