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WESTERN NIGERIA FOOTBALL FORUM
Ibadan, Famous as the largest city in West Africa lived to its name on Friday when the Who is who in football gathered to launch what is now known as the Western Nigeria Football Forum. CAF big wig Amaju Pinnick Who is also the the President of the Nigeria Football Federation performed the launch which also marked the birth of the new Of a Football League
Performing the ceremony, NFF President Amaju Pinnick, says the move was in the right direction and challenged the other zones to emulate and create a healthy competition for which Nigerian Football will be the ultimate beneficiary.
He said he was not surprised because the South West has always blazed the trail in several respects. When we were growing up, the name of this place, Cocoa House, rang very loud and it was the dream of every Nigerian to visit here. You have shown a clear vision by choosing this place to be the headquarters.
The NFF Boss said that There is nothing wrong in this concept; it is only full of positives, including bringing football closer to the people and engendering a surplus of talents. It is the same reason why in Africa, we have the different zones and they have their own calendars and competitions,” said Pinnick, who is also Vice President of WAFU B.
NFF 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi, who is Coordinator of the Forum, explained that the Odua Football Leagues would have U15, U17 and U20 categories at the youth level, with the U23 sector being the Premier League to which the youth teams will aspire.
Akinwunmi revealed that the idea was conceptualized at a meeting of the South West forum in Abeokuta in 2015, while commending the support that the concept has received from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (who has donated a trophy for the Premier League) and some other leaders in the zone. He called on the political, royal and corporate leaders of the zone to support the project.
Pinnick then unveiled the logos and identity of the Forum and the Leagues, saying the concept was capable of fast –tracking the the development of Nigerian Football into a full –blown industry capable of employing and sustaining the youth – a position shared by the Chairman of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Mr. Seye Oyeleye.
Both Oyeleye and Hon. Fatai Adesina Salau, Oyo State Commissioner for Liaison and Special Duties, foresee a situation whereby the Odua Football Leagues will curtain social vices by positively and productively engaging the youth and reducing unemployment in the entire South West, while at the same time building a large and useful pool of talented footballers that will take Nigerian Football to even higher heights of glory.
Pinnick insisted that youth football is the future of Nigerian Football, and after taking a look around the new offices of the WNFF on the 15th floor of the iconic building, promised to support the furnishing of the secretariat.
Akinwunmi, also Chairman of the Lagos State FA, Chairman of the NFF Youth Football Committee and Member of the CAF Committee on Youth Competitions, said: “What we are doing is to foster regional integration while at the same time promoting grassroots football through which we will produce future stars for Nigeria. There will be a lot of programmes including scouting, coaching and refereeing, and we will invite people from other zones for these programmes.”
Among those who witnessed the launch was two time Super Eagles Coach and FIFA CAF technical expert Chief Adegboye onigbinde now 80 years old.
Courtesy:NFF MEDIA DEPT
