Yakubu Mailafa, the sole sponsor of the Mailafia Peace and Unity Cup in Nasarawa State says all Nigerians, in various ways, have contributed to the dwindling fortunes of the country’s football and should take the responsibility instead of engaging in blame game, Completesports.com reports.
Mailafa calls on all and sundry to join hands together in promoting and developing football in Nigeria.
He spoke at the GSS Daddare football field in Daddare development council of Obi LGA, Nasarawa State.
“It saddens my heart that Nigeria, despite her huge talents at her disposal find it difficult to stamp her authority firmly on world football,” Mailafa said.
“Everybody is heaping the blames on our indigenous coaches’ inability to excel with our various national teams, but the question we should be asking ourselves is, ‘what are our contributions’ ?
“How many of us have taken that step to send grassroots coaches to refresher courses which in turn will be imparted on the grassroots players and even sponsor grassroots competitions to unearth hidden talents?”
To drive home his call for everyone’s involvement in promoting football in Nigeria, he pointed out that the Mailafa Peace and Unity Cup, which is in its fourth edition, has produced many players including Nasarawa United attacker, Anas Yusuf, among others.
“We are not also forgetting former Mighty Jets of Jos chief technical analyst, Joseph Tsekaar Atser who is also a product of this championship.
He also has plans on ground to sponsor some grassroots coaches in the state for coaching refresher courses, which will also include periodic seminar to bring the grassroots coaches up to speed in the modern trend of football.
Meanwhile, eight teams have sealed their places in the quarterfinals of the fourth edition of the tournament.
They include FC Baraya, Thunder FC, Chokali Babes, Daddare United and Adudu United.
Others are FC Bulldozer, Obi-Ega United and Obi-Ega Junior.
Quarter final matches have billed for December 9-12, 2019.
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COMMENTS
Well done for what you are trying to do but you must understand that not everyone is cut out to be a coach, not everyone is cut out to be a footballer, not everyone has eyes for talent. But very sad as it is, money instead of passion drives nigerians into choosing a profession, reason all we have are appalling footballers n coaches on parade in our local leagues. Sending these to training will be a waste of time as only passion comprehends learning while anyone driven by money to be made will only be interested in d money making part of that training n not d football side of it. A passionate footballer/coach will not wait for somebody to sponsor him or her before making that decision. Eg JJ OKOCHA journey to Germany. But all said, those passionate ones Should be supported.