Sports development in Nigeria has been an integral part in developing the teeming youths worldwide. Soccer as team sports has tremendously engaged the youths as it harnesses their talents and shoot them to limelight.
Football development has not taken its rightful position in developing the teeming talented Nigerian youths. There has not been deliberate efforts by the authorities concerned to harness and develop raw talents. The concentration has been on established players and upper football leagues.
Football clubs owned by individuals or corporate organizations seldomly survive two consecutive football seasons due to capital intensive nature of managing club and other inhibiting factors.
At the Yakubu Gowon Stadium Elekahia, Port Harcourt, venue of the Ave International Football Club of Ịsịnwaeke playing tour pitch; CHUKWUDI EJIMOFOR South-South Regional Editor Summitnews Newspaper spoke with High Chief P M C Okeke, Chief Executive Officer, Ave International Football Club. He spoke on an array of issues concerning football development and management in Nigeria.
EXCERPTS:-
Federal, State Governments, corporate bodies, individuals, should fund sports development
Chief for official purposes may we know you?
My name is High Chief P M C Okeke, Chief Executive Officer Ave International Football Club of Ịsịnwaeke, Ịhịte Ubọma Local Government Area, Imo state. I am also the CEO Ave International Concept Limited and the Proprietor, Ịkoro Okigwe Newspaper.
Chief we understand that Ave International Football Club is relatively a new football club, tell us the purpose of your team in Port Harcourt?
Ave International Football Club is an NLO Division 2 outfit based in Ịsịnwaeke, Ịhịte Ụbọma LGA, Imo State. We embarked on a three-day playing and scouting tour in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The tour took place at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium Elekahia, Port Harcourt Rivers State from 6th to 8th of March, 2025. It was aimed at exposing the players, maintain the team’s fitness, improve their standard and establish strategic relationships with other football teams and football stakeholders in the Garden City of Port Harcourt.
The tour was organized and bankrolled by Ave International Football Club. The team was lodged in a closed camp. We played different clubs, It was interesting and hard work for our club. At the end of the day, our expectation is to give back to our players and also showcase them to the clubs in Europe. Ours is to develop their talents and put smiles in them and also give them opportunity for tomorrow.
What was the performance of Ave International and the results in all the games?
We had our first game with Port Harcourt City Football Club, the club is rich with experienced and foreign based players. The result went well, we lost one zero, which they scored through penalty. I was very happy to see our talented players, and they were able to get done.
In our second game, Ave International bounced back with a 2-1 win against BK Vandals Football Club and our third and last game Ave International played a scoreless draw with Salvation Ministries Football Club.
Ave International Football Club played Nigeria NLO league. We played in the Nigeria Under-19 finals in Owerri, Imo State State with Tunduruwada Football Club Kano, we lost through penalty shoot-out.
Football is business and business is football. You are the sole sponsor of Ave International I suppose, with your experience in running football club, tell us your perception(s) in running football club in Nigeria
Running football club in Nigeria is not very easy. It takes lots of personal efforts, and it needs corporate and government support. We are calling on individuals and companies to support the development of sports in Nigeria, because that is the only way you can create talents and keep our youths engaged. We also admonish government to step-up the funding of sports; build sports infrastructures and donate to clubs. Build a stadium, donate it for three clubs for their use in each senatorial zone. That will help us to engage our youths in the rural areas; harness and create talents and secure the future for the youths.
You are in Rivers State, what is your impression about Rivers State Government in sports development, football in particular?
Rivers State Government has been able to play a pivotal role in developing football in Nigeria and also in Africa. For instance I know when this stadium was launched and it has done well to the state and the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium. They have hosted national sports festivals and in football club they had Sharks football Club that metamorphosed to Eagle Cement, Dolphins now Rivers United Football Club and the Rivers Angels football Club that has been one of the billboard of Rivers State. The state has done very well, but more needs to be done, because when you go to the hinterland in the state, there are still raw talents that need to be harnessed.
Chief the way forward catching them young and what’s your take in lack of spectators in the stadium to watch football?
I enjoin the Rivers State Government to partner with us to help further deepen the grassroots football and other sports development in the state. So far Rivers State Government has done well, but we can do better. I also enjoin members of the public to come out and watch football and sports in general as part of their evening relaxation that alone will secure a good health for those who value it.
Is there any other message you wish to give to the public?
Yes, I want to thank the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Chief Hope Uzodima and the good people of Imo State and people of Ịsịnwaeke Community, in Ịhịte Ụbọma in particular for supporting and encouraging the Ave International Football Club.
I salute Mr. Efemena A. Isaac, the Chief Scout of Eighteen 63 Sports & Entertainment Agency, they are strategic partners he promised to select the best players from Ave International and expose them to further grooming and training in Lagos.
We recognize and appreciate the Rivers State football Referees Council led by the Chairman Mr. Charles Dennis Dima who presented us souvenirs.
We appreciate immensely Coach Raphael Akunna, Vice Chairman Rivers State Coaches Association, Chief Consultant, Ave International Football Club.
We appreciate in no small measure High Chief Charles Nwaiwu a good man and Mr. Kenneth Chiagoro for their support and encouragement to Ave International Football Club.
I passionately thank the technicial crew and players of Ave International Football Club for their steadfast and hard work.
I appreciate the enthusiasm of Ave International Football Club Supporters’ Club led by the President, Dedde Chima Ebesim ,they stood solidly by us all through the playing tour in Port Harcourt.
I thank the Press generally and in particular Summitnews Online National Newspaper for their media coverage of our games while we are in Port Harcourt.
