Uduaghan signs Okocha, Ikpeba for Delta school soccer
And in Asaba today, he will inaugurate a committee which will, among other things, ensure that football returns to secondary schools in Delta State. It will be competitive and may be called Principal’s Cup as it was known be fore or a new name given it.
In the committee are names like Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Victor Ikpeba and Davidson Onwumi who are all great names in Nigeria’s football. Okocha and Ikpeba made name playing in Europe, with Ikpeba being named Africa’s Footballer of the year in 1997. Onwumi made name as a player and an administrator, having run Rangers International during the years Chimaroke Nnamani was governor of Enugu State. He has even made Enugu his home but Dr. Uduaghan now wants him to contribute something to Delta, his own state. Okocha and Ikpeba have variously done football projects in Lagos but will now pay some attention to Delta, their home state, courtesy of Dr. Uduaghan.
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare, described as a workaholic, is chairman of the committee. The committee also has the state commissioner for Youth and Sports Ebifa Ijeoma, the chairman of the state Sports Council, Amaju Pinnick and Richard Mofe Damijo as members.
“The governor wants to leave legacies in all areas including sports and reviving football in secondary schools is dear to his heart,” one of the governor’s aides said yesterday adding, “taking football to the grassroots and schools is key to any progress any government can make in football development and that’s what the governor wants to do knowing that such a project will churn out many potential stars who may be the cornerstone of Nigeria’s football in future.”
“It’s a good development. It’s great that the governor is thinking this way. Yes, a lot can be done and we will do our best to make things happen in Delta,” Ikpeba said with excitement when contacted over the task.
