C’River Govt. to sponsor talented footballers to overseas clubs
C’River Govt. to sponsor talented footballers to overseas clubs
The Cross River Government says it will establish a football talent-hunt programme to identify, develop, and sponsor talented young footballers to professional clubs outside Nigeria.
Kalita Aruku, Chairman of Cross River State Youth Empowerment Scheme, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Thursday.
He said the initiative, which his office will coordinate, is designed to transition young football athletes from local pitches to global stages.
Aruku, who described the initiative as unprecedented, said it will set a new benchmark for youth empowerment in Nigeria and the State in particular.
The initiative, according to him, will involve established footballers, experienced coaches, and professional scouts who will be brought to the state to identify promising talents through organised football competitions.
The Chairman said players considered good enough to secure opportunities with clubs abroad would be supported financially to enable them to take up such opportunities.
He said the initiative was designed to address one of the major challenges confronting young Nigerian footballers, lack of resources to travel after being identified or invited by foreign clubs.
“Most of the time, the challenge we have is that most of our young people who have been invited to play outside the country do not have the resources to move.
“Once these players are scouted and deemed good enough to be sponsored out of the country to wherever clubs need their services, the government will support them,” he said.
He said that the programme would provide a structured pathway for young footballers to progress from grassroots competitions to professional football.
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Aruku also said it would enter into agreements with relevant partners to ensure the sustainability of the programme, and establish mechanisms for managing returns from players who eventually become successful professionals.
According to him, the initiative would not only promote sports development but also create opportunities for young people to build sustainable careers through football.
The chairman expressed optimism that the programme would help discover talents capable of representing Cross River and Nigeria at national and international levels.
