It was a galaxy of the meeting of stars in Port-Harcourt on Tuesday when the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, unveiled the Real Madrid Football Academy, with an assurance that the institution, would not only create jobs but produce world-class future stars.
Dare said, from time immemorial, Rivers State had a reputation of producing notable people like the Great Jaja of Opobo, Alfred Diette Spiff, Justice Karibe White, foremost virologist Professor Tam David West, two Sports Ministers; Alabo Graham Douglas and Tammy Danagogo.
In football, Sharks which metamorphosed to Rivers United had produced world-acclaimed players.
The event is therefore, not only local, but special and monumental.
He is confident that the Real Madrid Academy, Port Harcourt, will produce fantastic players like Paul Hamilton, Adokiye Amaesimaka, Jossy Dombraye, Taribo West, Furo Iyenemi, and Nigeria’s most capped player, Joseph Yobo.
The foundation for the actualisation of the dream has therefore, been laid.
The Minister further said, “although two Nigerians, Emmanuel Amuneke and Gbenga Okunowo had played for Real Madrid’s bitter rivals Barcelona, no Nigerian has played for the Galacticos.
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The setting up of the institution could change that trajectory, by producing new Franck Puskas, Santiago Bernabeu, Raul Gonzalez, Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo.”
Dare affirmed that, since the main objective is to promote in Rivers State and Nigeria, the values inherent in football as a profession, the Real Madrid Football Academy PH, is an educational tool, capable of contributing to the comprehensive development of Nigerian Youths, by creating jobs and wealth.
It is also in sync with the government’s motive, of combining education and sports, which are inseparable.”
He assured the Rivers State Government of the support of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, to ensure the implementation of the Academy’s mandate.
The Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt was founded in 2019, by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, having been given the franchise to operate by the Real Madrid Foundation.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
