Vivian Ahanmisi
The Nathaniel Idowu Summer Camp has trained 420 young footballers in Lagos, with organisers expressing optimism that the initiative will help discover and develop future national team players.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the month-long programme, organised by the Nathaniel Idowu Foundation, ended on Friday with a closing ceremony at the Maracana Stadium, Ajegunle.
The camp brought together children aged eight to 16, who received training in football and were exposed to lessons on teamwork, discipline and other values through sports.
McAnthony Anaelechukwu, Director-General, Peakline Sports World and Coordinator of the camp, said the maiden edition was a major achievement.
He said the edition attracted participants from different parts of Lagos and neighbouring states.
Anaelechukwu said some of the participants came from Badagry, Ikorodu and Ijebu-Ode, whilesome were accommodated at the camp.
“We had children coming all the way from Badagry, Ikorodu and even Ijebu-Ode.
“Some of them were camped here, while others stayed outside the camp,” he said.
He said Ajegunle was chosen as the venue because of the availability of sporting facilities and the support provided by the foundation.
“Ajegunle is where the facilities are and that is why we are here,” he said.
Anaelechukwu said the programme had recorded significant improvement among the participants, particularly the girls.
He said the foundation had commenced its girls’ football development initiative, tagged “Let’s Her Play”, in February, with about 180 girls participating.
According to him, about 30 girls identified during the project later joined the summer camp, while additional participants were subsequently admitted.
He said 62 girls took part in the summer camp and had shown considerable improvement in ball control, movement and overall football skills.
“We have seen the girls grow. We have seen them improve in their ball work and movement.
“They are now able to move their feet well as far as football is concerned, unlike when they joined us in February,” he said.
Anaelechukwu expressed optimism that some of the girls could eventually represent Nigeria at the national level.
“I want to assure you that in the next three years, we are going to see some of these girls in the Falconets,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Dotun Coker, a member of the Nathaniel Idowu Foundation and Vice Chairman, Lagos State Football Association, said the foundation had identified promising talents during the camp.
Coker said the participants were exposed to football, basketball, rugby and athletics as part of the programme.
He said the foundation had created a database of the participants to monitor their progress and continue supporting their development during subsequent holidays.
Coker said Nigeria had abundant sporting talents but required improved coaching capacity and infrastructure to nurture them.
“What I have seen here is that Nigeria has talent. All that is needed is coaching capacity and infrastructure to develop these talents,” he said.
Peter Okereke, Chief Executive Officer, Paddysco Sports Academy, said his organisation participated in the programme to expose young players to new opportunities and competitive experiences.
Okereke said the experience would encourage the players to learn from one another and improve their skills.
He said partnerships and collaboration remained important to sports development.
“We felt it was right to participate since our partners are involved. This will enable us to contribute to the development of the players and sports,” he said.
A parent, Mrs Catherine Nwokwu, commended the programme for helping her 11-year-old daughter improve her football skills.
Nwokwu said her daughter had previously participated in a similar programme in February and was later shortlisted by her school for the summer camp.
She said she was surprised by the progress her daughter had made.
“I never knew she had this potential. She has proved me wrong and has shown that she is stronger than I thought,” she said.
Nwokwu said she now supported her daughter’s ambition to pursue football professionally.
One of the beneficiaries, Peter Anaelechukwu, said the camp had improved his football skills and taught him the importance of teamwork.
He said he learnt how to cooperate with teammates, pass the ball effectively and improve his overall game.
Anaelechukwu expressed his willingness to participate in the next edition and thanked the organisers and sponsors for supporting the programme.
Fourteen-year-old Fatima Abdurahman, another beneficiary, said the programme had improved her confidence and football skills.
Abdurahman said her father initially discouraged her from attending the training because he believed she could not play football.
She said he later changed his mind after seeing her improvement and began supporting her participation.
According to her, the camp also enabled her to make new friends and develop her interest in football.
The founder of the Nathaniel Idowu Foundation, Mr Yemi Idowu, said the summer camp was established to keep children active, engaged and happy during the holiday.
Idowu said the initiative had its roots in a family tradition spanning about 40 years before being developed into the current programme.
“We want to keep the children active, engaged and happy during the holiday,” he said.
He said the free programme offered football, basketball and other sporting activities, as well as meals for participants, while parents were only expected to take care of transportation.
“Once they register and take care of their transportation, everything else is provided free,” he said.
Idowu said the foundation also focused on education and health, particularly for children and youths in Ajegunle and neighbouring communities.
According to him, the foundation has more than 30 schools within its catchment area.
He said sports could help children develop concentration, reaction speed, discipline and teamwork, which were also useful in education and everyday life.
“Sports teach them discipline, concentration and teamwork, which are useful both in school and in life,” he said.
Idowu said the foundation planned to establish a clear pathway for young players to progress from the under-14 and under-16 levels to higher age grades.
He said particular attention would be given to girls’ football, with an ambition to have about 600 girls playing consistently in Lagos.
“Our aim is to build a strong pathway that can produce players for Nigeria’s under-17 teams,” he said.
Idowu said the success of the programme and the happiness of the participating children remained major sources of motivation for the foundation.
“The message to the children is simple: Nigerian adults have not forgotten you,” he said.
NAN reports that the closing ceremony featured football matches, presentation of awards and recognition of outstanding participants.
The programme is part of the foundation’s efforts to promote youth development, talent discovery and positive engagement through sports.(NAN)
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa