A member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Muyiwa Jimoh has joined the array of politicians putting money into football development projects across the country, as he has doled out funds for a summer football holiday camp across the metropolis.
Hon. Jimoh explained that the programme, in which the best 150 players will play a one-day final this month, is part of his contributions toward enhanced football development and a view keep youth within his constituency busy during the current holiday period.
He disclosed that pitches to be used for the programme are Metropolitan Field at Ijora, White Sand Field at Orile-Iganmu and Marine Pitch at Apapa, where free drop-in-sessions will hold every Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday till the end of the holidays.
Jimoh further said the project is being organised in a bid to guarantee a line of talented footballers and create a memorable summer holiday for children in Apapa Constituency 2.
He further said the football drop-in–sessions, which began on Tuesday July 31, are for boys and girls between ages 8 and 13 years.
It is also a follow-up to the sponsorship of 12 grassroots football coaches by the lawmaker in Coerver Coaching Course, to obtain Youth Diploma 1 certification from the premium A-grade youth football education organization.
The coaches returned to the community to transfer their knowledge to the young talents, as a gradual development of diamonds in the rough.
One of the coaches and co-ordinator of the sessions, Aremu Lawrence Sunday revealed a high level of enthusiasm from primary and junior secondary schools administrators in the area to make their students available for the programme.
He said: “The reception from the schools and the community is encouraging. We have 350 registered children and we are ready also on our part to impact the children because we are well equipped for the task ahead.”
On his part, Honourable Jimoh said he was motivated to sponsor the clinic because he is a son of the soil and grew up in the neighbourhood.
He stated further that his memories of how many footballers have grown from indigent homes to become renowned is another motivation for him to keep the hope of a better future alive through the football project.
Jimoh said: “I see football as a tool for development, fitness while it is also an avenue to educate the next generation that hope is not lost as you develop your body, you should also develop your brain simultaneously.
“As a representative of the people and a political office holder, it should be one of my responsibilities to impact on human beings because that is what will endure.”
Adding his voice to the ongoing project, executive director of Search and Groom Youth for Development Centre and country representative of Coerver Coaching in Nigeria, Mr Yomi Kuku thanked Honourable Jimoh for fulfilling his promise to fund post-training ventures of the certified coaches as well as in making the drop-in-sessions free and accessible.
Kuku said some of those who have benefited from his support for football development have been exposed to international programmes including ‘Street Football Festival 2016,’ which was an official event of France Euro 2016 and the Homeless World Cup.
He added: “We have trained the coaches and the talents are here, so harnessing shouldn’t be difficult.”
