Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should endorse the Cowbell Football Academy (CFA) as a substitute for lacking of a conveyor chain required for national football teams in the country.
Chairman and CEO of Sports Radio, Brila FM, Dr. Larry Izamoje, who gave the advice in Lagos, said that the challenges currently confronting the nation’s football teams was as a result of the gap existing between those teams and the grassroots football.
The frontline sports authority gave the advice at the closing ceremony organised for the CFA Summer Camp 2015 held at the Main Bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Izamoje, who was impressed by the quality of training young footballers were exposed to during the camp, said without corporate support for the game of football in Nigeria, it will be difficult to get the perspective right.
His words: “The people in the Glass House should endorse this laudable initiative behind the Cowbell Football Academy. They should use it as a replacement of the conveyor chain for the national teams, which of course, is not there at the moment. Without corporate support, it is difficult to do things like this.”
CFA is an initiative of Multisports Services and Entertainment Limited and sponsored by Cowbell Milk, produced by Promasidor Nigeria Limited.
Speaking at the occasion, NFF Vice President, Seyi Akinwumi, said that the event, meant for youth development, was close to his heart.
He acknowledged that there are very few credible youth camps comparable to Cowbell Football Academy Summer Camp in Nigeria.
As a result, he said: “The Football Association will not send youth to any Summer Camp that is not credible like CFA’s.”
He, therefore, promised that NFF will continue to support the initiative by Cowbell towards youth development in the country.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji, Category Manager- Diary, Promasidor Nigeria, disclosed that the company created the avenue to allow the youth to express their ambitions.
He stated: “We don’t see this as a cost; rather we see it as our own contribution to the youth development in Nigeria. It is about helping to bring out the hidden treasures for the benefit of the nation. We will be there to support platforms like this.”
