The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nationwide League One (NLO), Olushola Ogunnowo and a board member of the FCT Football Association (FCT-FA), Babatunde Nelson have commended the organisation’s schedule of the league and players’ display during the opening game of the NLO U19 League, which kicked off between G-Medix FC and Olympic Hybrid FC on Friday at the Nyanya Football Pitch, Abuja.
The administrators expressed optimism that the League is living up to its billing of discovering raw talents from the grassroots, saying the increase in the number of teams participating in the League is in tandem with its 10-year master plan to reach 1,000 football clubs across Nigeria.
According to the NLO boss, the opening game was a success for the league body based on the number of spectators in attendance, the live streaming of the game and its partnership with brands to take the game of football to communities yet to witness the game at this level.
He said, “The two sides, G-medix FC and Olympic Hybrid FC actually showed what is called real youth football. One overpowered the others, and you can see them; they are actually U19 boys which showcased excellent youth football. Our target is to reach as many youths as possible the number of youths to be participating in the NLO matches. Because if you look at the number of youths that are playing organised football in Nigeria, we are not near 10 or 20 per cent of it.
“So our target is to increase the tempo. Our target is to include the rising and allow more young, youthful clubs to be part of NLO and that was why we are opening up our scopes by allowing the state league to bring in more teams. Before so they used to give us eight teams every year, but the board has increased it to 16 based on the approval given to us.”
He added, “We are increasing gradually based on the 10-year master plan given to us. We have made the five-year master plan, which is 500 football clubs from 2021 to date. Between now and 2030, we should be hitting 1,000 football clubs in the NLO, which means we need to satisfy the full development of football across all the states of the Federation.
“With over 1,000 to 2,000 people in attendance, the event was a success, and the livestream garnered positive comments. NLO has partnered with notable brands like MTN, AfrikScout, and Sofa Score. The league aims to bring football to local communities, with the first match in Nyanya being a milestone.”
Nelson, who is also a board member of the NLO, in his submission, while praising Ogunnowo for organising the Youth League, emphasised the importance of bringing football to local communities, citing the NLO’s objective of catching them young and nurturing talents in the suburbs.
He said the League not only identifies and develops young talents in suburban areas but also provides them with opportunities for exposure.
“The league aims to move the game closer to the grassroots, entertaining local fans and promoting football development,” he said.
Nelson also revealed plans to hold playoffs in suburban areas like Gwagwalada, Abaji and Kwali, highlighting NLO’s commitment to community engagement.
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