WRITTEN BY MARTIN ODIETE
Former Nigeria International, Femi Ajilore has also joined the bandwagon of former Internationals seeking to contribute their quota in the development of football in Nigeria, by declaring to context for a position in the upcoming FA board of the Federal Capital Territory.
In a chart with our correspondent, Ajilore who is the organizer of the very successful Abuja youth league and several other youth football programs in the territory noted that with the experience he has having played the game at the highest level, and also having been into grassroots football development he is eminently qualified to serve in the board.
Ajilore said, “I made it known to them that having played the game myself as an ex-international. And, currently we have done a lot to see that our football grows in Nigeria and in the FCT particularly. More so, there have been many calls from people asking us what we are doing for Nigeria football growth, and obviously you know part of my own story, you know what we have been doing specially in terms of grassroots football. We have been doing a lot to catch them young because I think it’s important that the grassroots understand the basics of the game so that they can grow with it,” he said.
The former International was quick to applaud the efforts of the outgoing FCT FA board led b Abba Muktal for what they were able to accomplish in their first tenure, while stating that his intention to join the board is to bring to the table some of the things that he has learnt that can add to the growth of football in the FCT.
“And of course, one must not rule out the fact that FCT FA board members have done a lot, because if you check in FCT now you can see that there has been a lot of grassroots programs that is driven by the FCT FA Chairman, Abba Muktar, and you can also see the creation of other sporting facilities in Bwari which is also done by the FCT FA chairman and the board as a whole. So, these are great things that have been happening in Abuja, and with our own little experience I think there are few things we can also bring to their table that can add more to the growth of football in FCT and in Nigeria at large.
And let us not forget so quick that this whole thing goes around with the media as well, because if you are doing a program and the media are not there to cover it and to make it known to the world your programs would not be known. So, I think there are many stakeholders in football development here in Abuja, and of course those that have the experience, and those that have played the game and are also proactive in the football administration has a major role to play, which I think I belong to that role as well. Owning an academy and trying to see that most of these younger lads develop in the right form, I think given the opportunity to serve these are some of what we can bring on board,” Ajilore concluded.