For the first time in sports administration in Abia State and perhaps beyond, private football clubs and academies owners have been brought under one umbrella body to enhance their activities and government participation in grassroot football development, Bestchoicesports.com.ng understands

Named Abia State Private Football Clubs and Academies Owners Association, the formation is at the instance of Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu who on Wednesday addressed the football proprietors numbering about 95 at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.

Represented by his Chief of staff, Dr ACB Agbazuere, the governor commended the clubs and academies owners for the wonderful work they were doing to churn out talented footballers in the state some of whom have made the state and Nigeria proud

He expressed the desire of the state government to partner with them and provide an enabling environment that would help them achieve better results through provision of facilities, security and incentives.

In his address, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development,Chief Emeka George Ikwuagwu, told the gathering to brace up to the new era of sports management and administration in the state as the state is determined to have an accurate data of clubs and academies in the state with a view to factoring such knowledge in its plans to take sports to another level of upliftment in the state.

To achieve this he said, football clubs and academies are expected to register with the youth and sports ministry while their owners should have an umbrella body to cater for the interest of its members as well as be its mouthpiece.
He said that non registered clubs and academies would not be allowed to operate in the state as a task force which has a former Sports Commissioner, Chief Henry Aghaeze as its Chairman has been set up to enforce the law in every local government of the state.

Some of the club and academy owners who spoke at the meeting welcomed the government initiative which they said would be of great benefit to clubs and academies and pledged their cooperation with the Abia State government.

They however pleaded to be allowed more time to fulfill the registration obligation .
Officers drawn from the three senatorial zones of the state were consequently elected to run the affairs of the new association.

They are: Chiabuotu Iheasimo and Samuel Agbai from Abia South as Chairman and PRO respectively,Uchechukwu Nwabuko and Princess Ozioma Nwaigwe from Abia Central as Vice Chairman and treasurer respectively while from Abia North Eme Iko and Mba Uko were elected as secretary and financial secretary respectively.
The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Elder Ikpeoha Friday, former national team coach, John Obuh, former Sports Commissioner, Chief Henry Aghaeze, Director of Sports, Sir Isaac O Isaac, directors in the ministry of Youth and Sports Development among others witnessed the occasion.