It was a day filled with excitement following the unveiling of Nze/ Oluchi Ekwueme Soccer Academy recently at Umuakuru Emekuku, in the Owerri North LGA of Imo state.
The event which attracted sports lovers and legends within and outside the state featured the unveiling of its senior and junior teams, as well as a Novelty match between NESA FC and Harkers FC that ended 1-1 draw.
The match however showcased raw skills of the players and complementary support of the management to give them the best exposures going forward.
Addressing the people, the state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha, represented by Comrade Greg Nwadike commended the Founders, Prof MarcAnthony Nze and Oluchi Ekwueme for establishing the academy and showing capacity and
assured NESA Management of government’s support.
While speaking to Newsmen, a co-owner of the football academy, Oluchi Ekwueme who expressed joy on the long awaited reality, said.
” I embarked on this journey of discovery, developing and nurturing young talents to develop skills.
“I am an ex-footballer and in my family, we are eight in number.
Eight of us are all footballers. So I said I was going to come out to impart it to the younger ones.
Ekwueme said the mission of of NESA is to develop skills, foster teamwork and aim higher for opportunities of playing in higher football clubs in Nigeria and Europe.
“I also aim to produce players that will represent the country at every category in the global stage.
“We will use this platform to showcase our community, state and Nigeria to the world”.
She also hinted that the academy’s programmes include seminars to keep players abreast with laws, technical and tactical updates of the game in order to play professionally among other internationally packaged expositions and opportunities.
Ekejiuba Nkwopara, Coach of the academy, who is also the managing director of the team, said.
“NESA is both a scouting and a full fledged team that can favorably compete with other teams in the league, they have in the past played and performed well in State Leagues, according to him,
“Coaching the team has been so amazing. It’s something I started from scratch and I’m used to the boys and they’re used to me and I’ve been with them for about 11 years, yes i have been with the boys right from scratch.
“We are good to go in the scouting program, good in the league team”.
Stanley Onuegbu, Ex-Captain of the defunct Iwuanyanwu Nationale, who applauded NESA Management for the initiative, also stressed the need to encourage sports development in the state.
