Former Super Eagles player, Victor Ikpeba has stressed the need to invest in grassroots football to develop and discover new talents, saying it remains the most important factor in the country’s quest to return to her glory days in football.
Ikpeba who stated this on Friday in Akure at a news conference ahead of the finals of annual Akogun Football Competition holding in Oka-Akoko in Akoko South-West area of the state, maintained that investing in grassroots football is crucial for the development of players at all levels, including age-grade competitions.
According to him, frequent grassroots football competitions will help produce world class stars but noted that football development could not be put in the hands of government alone.
He called on stakeholders in the football industry to emulate Hon Gbenga Omole, in sponsoring grassroots competition to develop young and new talents and promised to do more to support grassroots football development as he was also a product of grassroots football.
Ikpeba, who hailed his teammates who had graced the occasion in the past, saying it shows that the competition was on the right track of discovering more talents for the country.
“It’s a privilege to be in Akure, I am here to support Akogun Gbenga Omole for what he has been doing, I think this is the sixth edition, i am also a product of grassroots football.
“Personally, I do believe that though i have stopped playing,i still get myself involved in football, I am still part of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee, so it’s our role to support grassroots football.
“So when the honourable contacted me and I saw what he has been doing in the past six years, I was impressed and I think there is no better way to give something back to the community and see how you can develop these young boys and girls.
“I know the people love their football in Ondo State, I decided to come and my teammates have been here before to support what he is doing. We are here to support what he is doing and it will be a privilege to be in Akoko.
“I want to commend him and also appreciate the governor, he saw us yesterday, I want to thank the people of Ondo state, it was peaceful when we got here yesterday,” the 1996 Olympics gold medalist said.
The sponsor of the competition, Hon. Gbenga Omole, said the competition has produced more talents for local teams and with about five already playing outside the country.
Omole said apart from discovering talents from the competition, it was also an idea to promote unity and love, peace and progress among the youths.
According to him, over the years, the likes of Ben Iroha, Dosu Joseph, Mutiu Adepoju and Peter Rufai have graced the occasion.
He said as a football lover, who had invested in football before he ventured into politics, said he saw football as a way to execute youth empowerment programmes while also uniting them.
“Their presence and other soccer scouts has yielded results as we have had talented players exported to join clubs and teams outside the shore of our state.
“Football is a big business globally spinning over $4 Billion income in 2023 and it’s to projected to rise to $5.65 Billion by 2031,we want to be part of this.
“And with proper grooming, the talents discovered in this competition can be turned to stars and this will rub off on the thier families and communities,” he said.
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