Nze Ekwueme Soccer Academy, Club Launched in Imo Amid Cheers

ThankGod Emeh…

The joy following the unveiling of a new football academy and club named Nze Ekwueme Soccer Academy (NESA) in Umuakuru Emekuku, Owerri North LGA, of Imo state over the weekend cannot be overemphasized as sports lovers and legends in the locality and across the state trooped out en masse to cheer the management for their insights in setting up the academy to nurture and harness young football talents.

The academy launch featured unveiling of its senior and junior teams, donations as well as a deadlocked 1-1 Novelty match between NESA FC and Harkers FC alongside other football side attractions.

The match however showcased raw skills of the players and complementary support of the management to give them the best exposures going forward.

Addressing people at the launch of the academy, Imo state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha who was represented by Comrade Greg Nwadike and Wilson Amaefule commended the Founders, Prof MarcAnthony Nze and Oluchi Ekwueme for establishing the academy and showing capacity to not only hit the ground running but breaking new grounds.

Onyeocha assured NESA Management of government’s support for investing in sports development to strengthen grassroots sports in the state.

Speaking to news men, a co-owner of the football academy, Oluchi Ekwueme who expressed excitement on the long awaited reality, said she embarked on establishing the academy to give back to society by discovering, developing, nurturing and illuminating young talents to football stardom,  adding that her siblings are all footballers.

“I am an ex-footballer, and in my family, we are eight in number.
Eight of us are all footballers. So I said I was going to come out to impart it to the younger ones.

Ekwueme said the mission of of NESA is to develop skills, foster teamwork and aim higher for opportunities of playing in higher football clubs in Nigeria and Europe and as produce players that will represent the country at every category in the global stage.

She added that the academy’s programmes include seminars to keep players abreast with laws, technical and tactical updates of the game in order to play professionally among other internationally packaged expositions and opportunities.

Speaking also, the Coach of the academy, who doubles as the managing director of the team, Ekejiuba Nkwopara said the NESA is both a scouting and a full fledged team that can favorably compete with other teams in the league, noting that they have in the past played and performed well in State Leagues, while urging the government and general public to support the growth of the academy.

“Coaching the team has been so amazing. It’s something I started from scratch and I’m used to the boys and they’re used to me and I’ve been with them for about 11 years… I’ve been with the boys right from scratch.

“So we are good to go in the scouting program, good in the league team”

Adding his voice, the Ex-Captain of defunct Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Stanley Onuegbu extolled NESA Management for the launching while calling on the Ministry of Sports to empower Youths accordingly, adding that there is need to encourage sports development and giving back to society.