Rivers State Government on
Saturday unveiled the state-owned Real Madrid Football Academy in Port
Harcourt, which was constructed to promote professional football.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo
State, while inaugurating the academy, also unveiled the ultra-modern football
training facility.
This was done in the presence of
officials of Real Madrid Football Club and Rivers Government at the occasion.
Makinde, while speaking, said the
Academy would groom the next generation of stars.
“This project will allow the early
discovery and harnessing of football talents in Rivers.
“There has always been great
football talents from Rivers. Great players like Taribo West, George Finidi and
Joseph Yobo. This project will create more stars,” the Oyo governor said.
Makinde said sports remains one
of the greatest unifying factors in Nigeria, adding that by developing the Real
Madrid Academy, the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike was promoting
national unity.
He commended Wike for his
commitment to the development of Rivers.
In his address, Wike said the
unveiling of the Real Madrid Academy was one of the happiest events of his
life, as it marked the beginning of a new football era.
“Today is one of the happiest
days of my life. Today, our dream has come to fruition by the help of God,’’ he
said.
The governor said the state
government resolved to construct a school and hostel in addition to current
facilities at the academy.
Wike said that 70 per cent of the
students of the academy would be from Rivers, while other Nigerians would form
30 per cent of the school’s intake.
“The money used to execute this
project is from Rivers. Therefore, Rivers money is for Rivers people.
“Seventy per cent of the students
will be indigenes of Rivers, while the remaining 30 percent will be from other
states.
“All Rivers indigenes to be
trained in the academy will school here free of charge,’’ he said.
Wike said the people of Rivers
deserved the best, and this was why his administration was committed to
initiating and executing quality projects for the people.
Area Manager of Real Madrid
Foundation for Africa and Middle East, Inigo Vallejo, assured the State
Government that the club would continue to support the academy’s sustained
development.
He said after series of
engagement with Gov. Wike on the Academy, the club has keyed into it and would
help drive the project.
Vallejo, who thanked Wike for his
commitment to football development, stated that Real Madrid Football Club would
provide the necessary technical support to develop the Academy.
Secretary to the State
Government, Tammy Danagogo, also stated that the governor made outstanding
contributions to sports development to merit his award “Power of Sports in
Africa’’.
In a project description,
Permanent Secretary, Rivers Ministry of Sports, James Enebeli, said the project
marked the opening of a new chapter in football development in the state.
High point of the event included
an exhibition match between a selected team and Banham Model Primary School in
Port Harcourt, who were winners of Channels Television Kids Cup.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that the match ended 1-1.(NAN)
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