— Over 50 Talents Discovered at Under-13 Tournament Finals in Owerri

Old Stadium, Owerri — It was a carnival of football as the Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Imo State, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha, addressed a cheering crowd at the grand finale of the maiden edition of the Under-13 Youngsters Football Tournament, tagged “Catch Them Young.”

The grassroots football initiative, driven by Hon. Onyeocha himself, is aimed at discovering, grooming, and developing future football stars from the state. According to the commissioner, the tournament is strategically designed to catch young talents early, nurture them through a well-structured development pipeline, and position them for both state and international football opportunities.

“This tournament is not just about competition,” Onyeocha told the gathering. “It’s about building the future of football from the ground up. We want to discover these kids now, grow them into top-level players, and watch them dominate both national and international scenes in years to come.”

Hon. Onyeocha confirmed that over 50 outstanding young footballers have already been discovered during the two-month competition among Imo Kids Club Sides. He noted that trials will soon begin to select a formidable squad that would represent the state in future youth competitions.

“I’m confident that Imo State will soon become a major breeding ground for football talents in Nigeria,” he declared.

The final event was graced by top stakeholders in the sporting community, including the Technical Manager of Heartland FC and former Super Eagles winger, Ambassador Emmanuel Amuneke, who was specially acknowledged by the Commissioner for his presence and keen interest in the budding stars.

In addition to medals and trophies, Hon. Onyeocha announced that the top three teams would go home with cash prizes — an incentive aimed at encouraging the youngsters to balance their academic pursuit with football excellence.

The Commissioner used the occasion to appreciate Governor Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma for the opportunity to serve and for his continued support of sports development in the state.

He also extended gratitude to the Chairman of the Imo State House Committee on Sports, Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, and other members of the Assembly for their unwavering backing of youth-centered initiatives.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Dr. Utasi, alongside other ministry officials, was also commended for their commitment to ensuring the success of the tournament.

The “Catch Them Young” finals mark a new era for grassroots football in Imo, setting the stage for a future generation of champions.

*By: Sunday Agunbiade (Mr VAR)*

Sporting Director, Enyimba Football Club, Ifeanyi Ekwueme has warned former Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye to stop misleading members of the public against the club and advised him to read contractual agreement and code of conduct on payment of allowances and other sundry payments.

Ekwueme, who was one time Super Eagles forward described Ideye’s allegations as unfounded claiming that there are other sundry allowances that the club do pay its players at the end of season.

It would be recalled that Enyimba FC had earlier issued a strong rebuttal to former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye’s allegations, and termed it a deliberate attempt to tarnish the club’s reputation. The club expressed disappointment that a former Nigerian international, who was welcomed back home with open arms, has chosen to malign the very system that embraced him.

In a statement released on Friday evening, Enyimba FC defended their treatment of Ideye during his brief tenure at the club. The club highlighted that Ideye received VIP privileges, including a monthly salary of ₦1 million, luxury hotel accommodation costing ₦65,000 per night, air travel to away matches, and personal respect befitting his status as a top-level.

According to former Heartland FC Sporting Director and Tico Sports Wears, he said :” There are some allowances and payments we usually give our players at the end of every season so as not to leave them emty handed after the campaigns. In fact, these are already embedded in their contractual agreement and code of conduct. Said the astute football admistrator .

Enyimba also addressed Ideye’s performance on the field, stating that he scored only five goals across all competitions, and his overall impact fell short of what was anticipated. The club further accused Ideye of being a divisive influence in the dressing room, undermining team cohesion and progress.

Regarding Ideye’s claims about poor player welfare, Enyimba FC refuted these allegations, asserting that he never raised these issues while collecting VIP wages and privileges. The club emphasized their transparent bonus structure under the leadership of Nwankwo Kanu, which includes double win bonuses and personal incentives from management—sometimes as high as ₦1 million. Quoting Ekwueme’s claims he said: ” few bonuses had been paid before the end of season, few league and continental bonuses have also been paid before the end of season.”

Enyimba FC concluded their statement by reaffirming their commitment to professionalism and the growth of Nigerian football. The club expressed regret over the incident but assured fans, stakeholders, and the NPFL family that they remain dedicated to the principles of integrity and gratitude.

Enyimba FC is Nigeria’s most successful football club, having won two African Champions League titles and nine Nigerian championships.

The club is currently managed by Stanley Eguma, with Nwankwo Kanu serving as the chairman.

Enyimba FC’s home ground is the Enyimba International Stadium located in Aba, Abia State.

The club’s nickname, “People’s Elephant,” reflects their status as a symbol of pride for the people of Aba.

Enyimba FC’s commitment to player welfare includes a transparent bonus structure and personal incentives from management.

In a bold move to strengthen the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, Fidelity Bank Plc launched the 2025 edition of its SME Empowerment Programme on Wednesday, 23rd July 2025, in Lagos. The event brought together top entrepreneurs, ecosystem partners, and industry stakeholders to witness the unveiling of a game-changing initiative aimed at transforming Nigeria’s small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) through digital empowerment and strategic capacity building.

Mr. Stanley Amuchie, who represented the MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, delivered the opening remarks at the high powered summit. In a compelling and visionary speech, he emphasised the Bank’s unwavering commitment to innovation-driven-economic development, describing SMEs as “the architects of resilience, innovation, and inclusive growth.”

“This is more than an empowerment programme,” Mr. Amuchie noted. “It is a national call to action, an opportunity to equip growth ready entrepreneurs with tools, training, and support to not just survive but thrive in today’s digital economy.”

The 3-day transformative event marked the official unveiling of the Fidelity SME Empowerment Programme (FSEP), an ambitious intervention designed to provide 100 carefully selected SMEs with access to cutting edge business infrastructure, including fully installed POS desktop systems, ERPRev business software, barcode scanners, inventory input support, bookkeeping tools, receipt printers, and more, all at zero cost.

More significantly, the SMEs will receive six months of post-installation technical support, business monitoring and evaluation, and strategic branding. Every participant also received a free Fidelity POS device with instant transaction settlement from day one, a move Mr. Amuchie described as “a deliberate boost to operational efficiency and digital inclusion.”

The data speaks volumes. According to figures shared during the summit:

45% of SMEs report increased efficiency after adopting digital tools.

Digitally transformed SMEs grow revenue four times faster than others.

SMEs on digital platforms are three (3) times more likely to reach international markets.

Lastly, “digital-first SMEs” are 2.5 times more likely to achieve long-term revenue growth.

Fidelity Bank is not just crunching and spewing numbers, it is rewriting the SME growth narrative. From its acclaimed SME Hub in Gbagada, to targeted mentorships for female entrepreneurs, and high-impact masterclasses across the country, the Bank is creating an ecosystem of scale, opportunity, and sustainability.

Mr. Stanley Amuchie’s remarks underscored these realities, painting a future where data-driven empowerment becomes the cornerstone of economic resilience. His delivery struck a fine balance between strategy and sincerity, reinforcing his growing reputation as a thought leader in Banking and public finance.

In a speech laced with authenticity and purpose, Mr. Amuchie affirmed that the Fidelity SME Empowerment Programme is not a one-off intervention, but a continuation of the bank’s long standing support for entrepreneurs.

“This is our way of saying: We see you. We believe in you. We are here to help you grow,” he said.

He also extended heartfelt appreciation to Fidelity Bank’s team, stakeholders, and entrepreneurs in attendance, urging all participants to seize the moment and “make it count.”

As Fidelity Bank continues to distinguish itself with awards such as Nigeria’s Best Bank for SMEs by Euromoney and Export Financing Bank of the Year 2024 by BusinessDay, this latest empowerment push cements its role as not just a financial institution, but a transformational partner for growth.

And with personalities like Mr. Stanley Amuchie driving this vision with integrity and foresight, the future of Nigeria’s SME ecosystem looks decisively brighter

The Imo State Football Association heartily congratulates our own Super Falcons for the magical win of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) trophy on Saturday.

Chairman of the Imo FA, Barr Ifeanyi Dike in a statement on Sunday, said the players showed the indomitable Nigerian spirit of not giving up and putting up their best.

“That game will remain one of the wonders of football as our ambassadors, fought from two goals behind to equalise and win the match, even when many had already given up on them.

“We at the Imo FA are particularly gladdened at the girls committed zeal for excellence and fighting spirit, they have given every Nigerian, a boast no matter where located.

“It is a personal pride for the Imo FA that five of our daughters: Chiamaka Nnadozie ( goalkeeper), Osinachi Ohale (defender), Michelle Alozie (defender), Tochukwu Oluehi (goalkeeper), and Jennifer Echegini ( striker), are part of the 22 victorious Super Falcons players. They all have given us a sense of pride and we celebrate them for their stellar performances.

“It’s inspiring and a pride for Imo state and Nigerian football that the Super Falcons have put the nation on the limelight again and for enviable feats.

“We know that our daughters and their team members will continue to make us proud while we remain committed to the development of the leather game.

“While we congratulate the Super Falcons on their enviable feats, we call on Nigerian footballers the world over to keep making our country proud, especially as football has been acclaimed as our biggest uniting factor irrespective of our diverse culture, tradition, language, and religion.

We are confident that Nigerian exports will continue to blaze the international scene of football and other sports and appeal for more support and collaboration to nurture the abundant talents.

The Imo FA reiterates our commitment to grassroots football development even as we are hopeful of discovering huge talents abound in the state.

E-Signed

Imo FA Media

….Okosisi FC battles Captain Marvel FC in grassroots football showdown

By Silvernews

The Ministry of Sports Development, under the leadership of Hon. Obinna Onyeocha, is set to host the grand finale of the Under-13 Football Tournament tagged “Catch Them Young” on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at the Old Stadium, Tetlow Road, Owerri.

The final match will see two promising youth sides, Okosisi FC and Captain Marvel FC, go head-to-head in a keenly anticipated clash designed to showcase the best of grassroots football talent.

Hon. Onyeocha, the Commissioner for Sports Development, described the tournament as a key initiative to identify and nurture young talents from an early age, emphasizing that the future of Nigerian football lies in strong youth development programmes.

He urged sports lovers, scouts, and the general public to come out and support the youngsters, adding that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to revamp sports from the grassroots up.

Kickoff time is 2:00 PM.

The Nationwide League One Progressive Chairman’s Forum extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigerian Super Falcons on their resounding 3-2 victory over Morocco in the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final. This remarkable win marks the team’s 10th continental title, cementing their status as the most decorated women’s football team in Africa.

The Super Falcons’ triumph is a proof of the team’s unwavering dedication, unrelenting passion, and unbridled talent. As the team takes its rightful place among the continent’s elite, we celebrate the exceptional skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship that defined their journey to the championship.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this historic victory with the entire nation. The Super Falcons’ achievement is a shining example of what can be accomplished through hard work, determination, and teamwork. We commend the team’s coaches, management, and support staff for their tireless efforts and commitment to excellence,” said a representative for the NLO Progressive Club Chairman’s Forum.

As the nation rejoices in the Super Falcons’ triumph, the NLO Progressive Club Chairman’s Forum looks forward to a new era of excellence in Nigerian football. We congratulate the team on their well-deserved victory and wish them continued success in their future endeavors.

Long Live the Super Falcons!

NLO Progressive Club Chairmen Forum Media

27th July, 2025

The Women’s Wing of the National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers (NANPF) proudly congratulates the Super Falcons on their remarkable achievement of winning the Women’s African Cup of Nations an unprecedented ten times!

You have made us immensely proud. Your strength, resilience, and unyielding spirit on the field reflect the true essence of the Nigerian woman — bold, determined, and never backing down from a challenge.

Coming from two goals down, you echoed the spirit of the historic Saudi 89 Russia-Nigeria comeback, displaying incredible determination and proving once again why you remain the best in Africa. Your doggedness, unity, and brilliance on the pitch continue to inspire generations of women across the continent.

To the Super Falcons, we say thank you for lifting our hearts — and the trophy.

Congratulations to Nigeria! 🇳🇬

Congratulations to the NFF!

Congratulations to our Super Falcons

NANPF Communications

…WANT CLUBS TO PLAY BY THE RULES ON PLAYERS CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT & WELFARE

The  Nigeria Players Union,the National Association of Professional Footballers ( NANPF) has stated that the Union is focused at ensuring that issues around players welfare and provisions of players contractual agreement are never compromised or taking for granted by clubs .

This was made known by the Union on 25th July ,2025 through a statement by the Chairman of the players union board, Nigeria ex international Sunday Abe, while expressing concern  on the way and manner some clubs neglect full   implementation of contractual agreement between players and clubs and also playing down on their welfare packages including payment of their entitled bonuses which they have worked for.

He maintained that the Union through its formidable framework will not take it lightly with any erring clubs and call for change of attitude by clubs and their management.

The period of iLL treatment of players by their employers is gone as we have set our machinery in motion to ensure that clubs do the needfuls without further attracting issues around trade union  dispute  and advised clubs ,club owners and managers to be fair and professional in the handling of players welfare ,salary and bonuses and with due considerations on their physical and general well being.

He therefore advise clubs to toe the part of fairness promptly to avoid trade union actions and their consequences. We want to assure that our framework will bring about periodic engagement with club managers and clubs and other football stakeholders on how to improve & maintain the tempo on players welfare ,salary and bonuses without undue delays .