By Aloysius Umalo, Makurdi
The Continental American Football League (CAFL) of Africa is set to establish a football academy in Makurdi, Benue State, as part of efforts to discover and develop hidden sporting talents across the state.
The Commissioner of CAFL, Mr. Mohammed El Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday in Makurdi during a press conference, describing Benue as a state blessed with enormous sporting potentials capable of producing talents for Nigeria and the global sporting arena.
Mohammed said the league would officially commence operations in Benue in March next year, explaining that the initiative was aimed at bringing football closer to Nigerians and creating opportunities for young people to develop their talents.
He disclosed that the Benue State Government had given its approval for the programme to take off in the state.
According to him, the state government would be expected to provide an enabling environment for the programme, including access to playing pitches and adequate security, while CAFL would handle the technical and developmental aspects of the initiative without requiring financial assistance from the government for its takeoff.
He said the programme would also provide welfare and medical support for players, including the establishment of clinics and the availability of trained sports therapists to attend to injuries sustained by players during training and competitions.
“Benue is a home of talents yet to be fully harnessed. There is a need to tap into these talents for the benefit of the people. It will also contribute to improving the economic well-being of families,” Mohammed stressed.
Also speaking, the Head of Marketing, Benue Television Corporation, Mr. Solomon Awua, described the initiative as a new vision for sports development in the state, saying its arrival had challenged the long-standing perception that major sporting opportunities begin in Lagos and end in Abuja.
Awua welcomed CAFL to Benue and urged Communities across the state to take advantage of the opportunity.
He assured the league of the partnership and support of the media in creating awareness and ensuring the success of the programme.
The Director of Sports, Benue State Sports Council, Dr. Iorngurum Malu, commended the CAFL management for showing interest in the state’s sporting sector.
He said Governor Hyacinth Alia had demonstrated commitment to sports development and would provide the necessary environment for the initiative to succeed.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, and the Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Benue State Chapter, Comrade. Hembadoon Orsar, also commended CAFL for involving the media from the outset.
They assured the organisation that journalists in the state would partner with CAFL to promote the programme and support its objective of discovering and nurturing sporting talents across Benue.
In his remarks, Bishop Sam Praise said the event was not merely a media exercise but the beginning of a practical initiative, and called on well-meaning individuals and organisations in the state to support the programme to achieve its objectives.