The Chairman of Kwara State Football Association, Mallam Idris Abdullahi Musa has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to lessen the burden of the development of the round leather game on Nationwide League Club Owners, so as to give credence to the uplift of the game at that level.
Mallam Idris, while commending the NLO teams for their sacrifices, added that the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) recognizes the contributions of the developers of the game from the roots, which is arguably the foundation for the growth of the game.
Mallam Idris, popularly known as Thuraya made tbe call yesterday, May 6, 2023, during the presentation of sports kits donated to the NLO Clubs at the Ilorin Centre, by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Okaa Sports, Alhaji Adelodun Abdullahi.
Six NLO Clubs are currently participating in the Group stage of Nationwide League in Ilorin, and they are SGFC Athletics, AbbreySports, Laycon FC, Offa FC, Barrier Football Academy and La Planet Sport Academia, all of which were given kits for their officials by Okaa Sports.
While commending Okaa Sports for the gesture, Mallam Thuraya said that the FA will partner the sports kits outfit in promoting football at the grassroots, even as he said that more sponsors and partners will be encouraged to support the game in the state.
“Football is a brand, and sponsors need to be encouraged to support the brand, in appreciation of the sacrifices by the Club Owners.
The Ilorin Centre Coordinator of the NLO Group games, Mr Akorede Monsur, thanked the FA and Okaa Sports for their support, adding that the NLO Board is doing a lot to encourage the Club Owners by seeking for sponsors, to reduce the task of running the game on them.
He commended the club’s for their cooperation.
The Chairperson of Kwara Football Referees Council, Dr (Mrs) S. T. Ajadi praised the FA and the clubs for their cooperation so far at the centre, as she also pledged better collaboration towards a healthier development of the game at the grassroots.
The Chairman of the Kwara chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mallam Ayodeji Ismail thanked Okaa Sports for identifying with the growth of sports, adding that development of football under the leadership of Thuraya has witnessed a lot of transformation.
The donor, Alhaji Adelodun Abdullahi, while presenting the kits to the clubs through the FA, said that the gesture was to encourage the clubs, even as he charged the eventual winners to do the state proud at the play-off.
In their response, the clubs commended the FA and Okaa Sports for encouraging the NLO, promising to sustain the development culture at the grassroots.
