Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr Uchenna Okafor has assured the Anambra State Football Association (FA) Caretaker Committee of the lawmakers’ support to enable them to achieve their aims.
Mr Okafor gave the assurance when Chairman of the FA Caretaker Committee, Dr Emeka Okeke led some of his members on a courtesy visit to his office at the Assembly’s complex on Aug. 13.
Okafor urged them to notify the lawmakers, when visiting their constituencies so as to help them to mobilise the type of people they need.
The Speaker enjoined the committee not to allow politics to deny them of the good dreams they have for Ndi Anambra.
According to him, this is a new beginning; sincerely speaking, football in Anambra has been in the hands of a few people, who have nothing to do with it.
“But your style of participatory football will enable it to grow.
“It’s a new dawn in Anambra, the day that your committee was inaugurated there was great jubilation in the state.
“In terms of youths sports and activities, we see you people as revolutionaries of what football is going to be in Anambra, and we know part of you and we are quite certain that capable hands are being chosen to guide these youths here in the state,’’ he emphasised.
He adds: “the committee’s target of football development, football pitch/stadium in virtually all 21 Local Government Areas of the Anambra, is very important and that is why I give Kudos to you for coming to my office today’’.
In terms of rural development, the Speaker said the 30 lawmakers representing different constituencies would help them to get the talents needed to enable them attain their dreams.
“Last year, virtually all house members did talent hunt in their constituencies with regards to football development by organising football competitions during festivities to ensure everyone participated in it,” he noted.
The House Committee Chairman on Youths and Sports, Mr Noble Igwe representing Ogbaru 1 constituency urged the committee to fashion out modalities to revive schools sports in Anambra in order to catch the youths young.
Mr Igwe announced that his committee would soon organise a novelty match to be played between the FA and the state lawmakers, promising to continue to partner with the committee to get the best from Ndi Anambra.
The Caretaker Committee chairman had earlier told the Speaker that the committee had pledged to use its three months mandate to achieve what FA had not seen over the past eight years.
Dr Okeke listed the committee’s aims to include organising election to usher in new leadership into FA, ensuring that the association operated, and that football development continued in the state.
“We have already sent out people that will get pictures of facilities in each of the 21 LGAs and will start work next Monday.
“We urge members under the private sector, to contribute financially to the development of sports in their local communities.
“We have started campaigns, members will get into the communities to educate people to go back to our local football,” he stressed.
Okeke expressed regrets that citizens did not know names of any local player in their local areas but knew those of international clubs, pledging support for local players.
He adds: “by the time we put the FA on track, it will be able to contribute to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“We will make sure there are coaches in each LGA and three referees to train our boys.’’
