The curtain will fall on the maiden edition of the Imo State Club Owners Association Super League today, with a mouth-watering final clash between Kun Khalifat FC and Blacksalt FC at the OISA City Stadium, Ngor Okpala, Imo State. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:00 PM.

Tagged by fans and pundits alike as “the battle of the competition”, this historic encounter promises fireworks as both sides vie for the ultimate bragging rights in what has been a thrilling grassroots football showcase.

Kun Khalifat FC have carried their impressive form from the league into other competitions, with their senior team recently earning promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). In the semi-finals, Khalifat edged out high-scoring revelations Akokwa United 2-1 in a pulsating encounter.

On the other side, Blacksalt FC booked their place in the final after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Malick Pro FC, showing grit and resilience in a tightly contested semi-final.

Speaking on the sidelines of the competition, the chairman of the Imo State Club Owners Association, High Chief Kachi Atufula, CEO of City Cruz Hotel Owerri and owner of Malick Pro FC, hailed the tournament as a landmark for grassroots football in Imo

The successful organization of this Super League proves that the Club Owners Association in Imo State is fully back, working for the growth of the football ecosystem in our state,” Atufula said.

Adding to the excitement, Silvernews Communication, publishers of Silvernews Newspaper, Wakawaka Sports Extra, and owners of Silversports FC, will broadcast the final live on Global 101.5 FM. This makes it the first grassroots football competition in Nigeria to enjoy live radio coverage, a remarkable milestone for local sports.

The grand finale will attract the crème de la crème of the sports world, dignitaries, and scouts eager to spot fresh talents unearthed by the competition. Already hailed as a breeding ground for future stars, the Super League has delivered on its promise to revive and showcase football talent across Imo State.

IFCOA MEDIA.

Another offering from the renowned 36 Lion FC football factory is currently capturing attention, prompting football agents and enthusiasts to praise his natural football abilities and immense potential to excel in global football.

The exceptionally gifted Quadri Liameed has made consistent and invaluable contributions in the midfield in Spain, which has now secured him a spot with CE Sabadell FC.

His progress continues to impress football analysts, who have swiftly recognized his status as one of the top midfielders in Segunda. With his skill set and technical prowess to control the game and influence the outcome of every match, the football community is closely monitoring this rising midfield star.

According to Quadri’s agent, Cem Saga, it is merely a matter of time before he is ranked among the top 5 midfielders in Spain, as he has full confidence in Quadri’s skills, intelligence, and ability to break through defenses.

“Quadri has also garnered interest from clubs in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, and Switzerland. However, we have opted to stay in Spain for the last three years, as we believe that the young man’s style of midfield leadership is distinctly Spanish,” he added.

By Silvernews

In the heart of Ikeduru LGA, Imo State, a quiet revolution in grassroots football is taking shape — and its name is Akabo United Football Club. Established in 2018, this modest but determined club is fast becoming a lifeline for young talents and a symbol of hope for community-driven sports development.

During an interactive session with the Imo State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), held at the club’s training ground in Akabo Community Primary School, the vision behind Akabo United was laid bare. Founder and Head Coach, Mr. Arikibe Darlington Onyekachi, traced the club’s humble beginnings and journey through the highs and lows of grassroots football. “It hasn’t been easy,” he said, “but we remain committed to giving young players a platform. Despite limited funding, we’ve pushed on.”

Since its inception, the club has featured in the 2023 Imo State League and taken part in tournaments outside the state, all aimed at providing its players with the exposure they need to grow. The result? A few have already attracted attention from bigger clubs, and one standout talent has earned a call-up to the national U15 team.

Adding a global dimension to the club’s aspirations is Ms. Sinervo Nicol Tina, a Finnish expatriate and Vice President of Akabo United. Passionate about youth empowerment, she described the club as “a project built on purpose.” Tina revealed that plans are underway to establish a football academy in Akabo and form strategic partnerships with sports development agencies in Finland. Beyond football, her mission is broader: to ensure that youths in the community are not only athletically developed but also socially and economically equipped for the future.

Akabo United FC currently trains daily on the school’s open field, guided by a shared dream and relentless determination. And while the pitch may be humble, the ambition is anything but. For this club, the future is not just about goals scored, but lives transformed.

The need to address growing concern emanating from Sports betting amongst some of our young talented athletes cannot be overemphasized.Studies revealed that young talented athletes are gradually dominating the market space on sports gambling/Betting especially in the football world .This growing concern is worrisome and calls for urgent necessary step towards addressing the menace .

Sports Gambling/Betting;

This has to do with an activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome.Sports gambling/Betting in Football involves predicting football match results ,half time scores and margin as well.Sports betting and gambling is gradually gaining prominence amongst our athletes ,a serious threat to the development of sports.Some have described gambling /Betting is sports as a tsunami threatening the sports world.This is because of the fact that this risky behaviour apart from the fact that it weakens athletes emotionally and mentally ,helps in compromising the integrity of any sports competitions which takes the image of sports to disrepute.

Vulnerability Uncovered.

According to a study published by E.U Athletes in 2016.Professional Athletes are many times more likely to develop a gambling /Betting Addiction than non athletes .because they operate often in environments where isolation is frequent ,largely due intensive training programmes as well as frequent travels and in such a manner ,gambling/Betting can appear as a form of escape or entertainment.Another factor to vulnerability is less attention to athletes welfare system ,compromises by club owners and administrators leading to ill treatment of athletes ,social media and other digital networks who helped to expose the presence and high connectivity in sports gambling and Betting through the advertisement of sports betting which tends to normalize the practice and thereby making it strongly accessible to the athletes.

Consequences of Sports Gambling/ Betting

The Consequences are enormous .Athletes are affected ,sports teams and the owner of the club as well as sports/football federations are affected hence it is regarded as ill wind that blows nobody any good.For the athletes ,he can suffer severe mental health conditions if the gambling /betting prediction did not go his way and as a result ,impart negatively on his general well being and performance in the team .Club or team owners bear the brunt as his club or team battles non performance with threat of relegations and failures.And for the sports federations ,the image and reputation of the sports are brought to disrepute.Additionally ,the standard of game involved will start dropping thereby reducing the ratings which affects the economic and sponsorship values .

Causes of Sports Gambling /Betting By Athletes.

Studies conducted on this shows that most athletes become vulnerable in camps due to peer pressures due to low self esteem ,quest to be famous and to get rich quick ,sports management lapses and Gaps ,External pressures on the athletes in meeting up with expectations .This came come from family members ,friends and relatives amongst others.Lack of enhanced welfare package for athletes amongst other factors .

Why Mental Health Education /Interface For Athletes Is Necessary

Mental health is a state of mental wellbeing which enables one to cope with the stress of life ,work and be able to remain productive as well as contributing to the community ,family and his organization .This generally means that an athlete who can no longer cope will find it difficult to live productively as his sports performances will start to dwindle .A lot of factors may contribute to mental health conditions of an athletes who is adjudged to have been groomed technically and tactically .An athlete might be having issues affecting his mental and emotional strength arising from poor welfare ,poor management of athletes ,External pressures from family ,friends and loved ones amongst others.These and more can make the athletes vulnerable and can present him with the intention to make ends meet which will be gotten in Sports gambling and Betting even with his team or club .On this note ,the need to secure the services of a trained and certified psychotherapist /Mental health practitioners becomes obvious for a well structured and result oriented psychosocial engagement and support to keep the issues on check through behaviour modifications .

Mental health Implications Of Sports Gambling /Betting On Athletes

Sports Athletes are made more vulnerable as he gets on board into the business of gambling and betting .Sometimes he suffers loss and sometimes he wins in his gambling/Betting.The time of loss presents him to the point of vulnerability because he wont like to stay without money and he needed to live and to play next game .This however takes him straight to the searching of alternatives which usually takes them to act that motivates offending (Criminal Behaviour) in the Camp,Selling of Confidential information in terms of physical conditions of team mates ,team strategies,strength and weaknesses to opponent and cashed out to live and to do his betting and meet up with other financial needs.

The conditions presented by lacks and failures to win coupled with other emotional and mental struggles arising from yelling and treatment he receives might trigger low self esteem,Stress,Burnout,Anxiety,Worry and eventually might throw him into depression because of unmet expectations .These behaviours affects brain functions and can trigger neurocognitive decline of the said athletes and his overall performances.

What we can Do

The need to be intentional by sports administrators ,managers ,sports federations in club owners at ensuring that all clubs or sports formations ,units ,clubs and camps that have athletes in place must have the services of a certified and trained mental practitioner or a psychotherapist who ensures that athletes behaviors are constantly monitored and professionally engaged by offering relevant support system for his general well being thus enhancing his productivity and preventing navigation into the negative pathways of gambling ,betting and other related anti social behaviours that may be seen amongst athletes .This approach no doubt,wil address vulnerabilities and help to hold managers accountable and responsive to the plight of the athletes.

Another important aspect is Gambling or betting industry or operators should be made to avoid normalizing gambling and betting by limiting advertisements targeting young athletes.Time for stakeholders to come together towards addressing the concern caused by gambling and betting by athletes is now as many clubs ,teams have suffered huge untold losses as there athletes keep betting with their clubs ,teams thereby compromising the integrity of sports as a whole .

The writer Coach Ebere Amaraizu is a graduate of National Institute For Sports (N.I.S) and a trained and Certified Cognitive Behaviour Therapy(CBT) Coach. He is also an international olympic committee/Nigeria Olympic Committee Sports Administrator and Manager and serving as the lead consultant at Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation.

BY Kingsley uzowulu.

Akabo United Fc is a Club loading to excel in the sports space in Imo state and the country in general.

This was disclosed by the Head coach and the founder of the club Mr Arikibe Darlington Onyekachi and the club’s Vice president and promoter Sinervo Nicol Tina a foreign expertriate in an interactive session with members of the sports writers association of Nigeria (SWAN) Imo state chapter held at Akabo community primary school in Ikeduru LGA of Imo state.

Explaining during the interview the head coach stated that the club was established in the year 2018 and since then has been going through various challenges to remain afloat.

He disclosed that the club is registered with the Imo state football association and participated in the 2023 edition of the Imo state league while also engaging the players in various tournaments outside the state in a bid to expose the m.

According to Mr Arikibe Darlington, the exposure of these players has enabled some of them to be discovered by clubs outside the state with one of them now invited to the National U15 team.

He solicited for support from sports loving individuals, soccer enthusiasts as well as the state government to aid the team to excel as lack of funds remains the club’s. major impediment.

The vice president and pillar of the club while responding to a question by the press stated that the club is a work in progress and that she is doing everything within her capacity to see that the club progresses in developing the youths by exposing them to clubs abroad to ply their trade.

The foreign expertriate in sports and human development said that she is working out a collaboration/ partnership with so me agencies in Finland to help build the support base of the club while also ensuring that outside sports the youths are empowered to thrive in other chosen fields of their endeavor.

The vice president also said that she plans to establish a football Academy in Akabo to help facilitate the progress of the youths in the community and beyond insisting that her passion is to see an average youth meaningfully engaged.

Akabo United Fc, established in 2018 is a breeding ground for young and talented footballers from 15years and above and trains everyday at their adopted training pitch in Akabo community primary school under the close supervision of the head coach and the vice president who comes in often from abroad to join the club during their training sessions.

By Silvernews Sports Desk

History will be made this Sunday as Silvernews Communication broadcasts live the final of the maiden edition of the Imo State Club Owners Association League. The highly anticipated match will take place at the OSIA City Stadium, Ngor Okpala, marking the first time a grassroots football event of this magnitude will be aired on radio in Imo State and beyond.

With over 17 years of media experience, Silvernews Communication, in collaboration with key partners, will beam the action live to audiences across Imo and Abia States through Global 101.5 FM and the company’s Facebook page, Silvernews.ng.

Speaking ahead of the historic event, the Chief Executive Officer of Silvernews Communication, Mr. Kennedy Onwunali, a former footballer himself, described the live broadcast as part of his commitment to societal growth.

“I have always sought avenues to contribute to the development of our society using every platform available. Supporting grassroots football is crucial, as it helps steer our youths away from social vices and gives them hope through sports,” Mr. Onwunali said.

He commended the efforts of the Club Owners Association in providing a platform for young talents to flourish and reaffirmed Silvernews’ dedication to community-oriented initiatives.

Individuals or organizations willing to support the live broadcast can contact the management on 08062359191 or via email at issiag219@gmail.com.

Former Minister Proudly Recounts Visit to Stamford Bridge

LONDON — Renowned Nigerian stateswoman and former Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Noble Lady Viola Adaku Onwuliri, LKSJI, ALOHA (ADAUHII), has long been a devoted fan of Premier League giants, Chelsea FC.

Back on Sunday, March 18, 2012, during her official visit to London for a Euro-Afro Cooperation Meeting, Prof. Onwuliri made a memorable stop at Stamford Bridge, the home ground of the Blues. At the prompting of her children—fellow die-hard Chelsea supporters—she took time out of her official schedule to pay homage to the team. During that visit, she had the opportunity to take a group photograph with the Chelsea squad, solidifying her deep connection with the club.

Thirteen years on, the passion remains undiminished. The academic and political icon was said to have cheered with excitement last Sunday as Chelsea dismantled PSG en route to a resounding victory in the FIFA Club World Cup, a testament to her enduring support for the West London club.

The Rangers international Football Club Foundation (RIFC FOUNDATION) has maintained that her programme tagged #MENTORME embarked upon with Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation is intentionally structured to set a direction for Children ,Young individuals including Parent,Sports Coaches and Educators and others who are regarded as gatekeepers in child care handling and development.

Coach Ebere Amaraizu the chairman Rangers international football club foundation made this known to newsmen while giving details of the #MentorMe activity which is a problem solving initiative anchored through a community driven approach towards addressing issues around child care,development and mental health issues and escalating roles of parents ,sports coaches ,guardians ,caregivers and other educators also regarded as gatekeepers in child care and development.

Coach Amaraizu who is a trained Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT) Coach and a U.S International Visitors Leadership Program(IVLP) Alumni on U.S Judicial System protecting Women and Children  as well as lead consultant at Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation maintained that child development and coaching requires a lot and very crucial as it plays pivotal roles in addressing and supporting children’s mental health by intentionally providing a structured framework and mechanism which is aimed at building self awareness and improving overall well being which is in line with the strategic action plan of the Rangers international football club foundation in the comuunity (Health & well being of the sustainable development goals 3).

We have developed a structured and comprehensive framework which is driven by Data (Evidenced Based) in partnership with Cope and Live and Mental Health Awareness Foundation together with our partner Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organization (CAPIONG) which will enable parents ,sports coaches ,Educators and other gatekeepers to observe noticeable changes in behaviour or mood of children and young persons

The framework also will enable parents ,Sports Coaches other educators to discover difficulties of children and young persons in social interactions as well as helping them to create a supportive environment for them to affect positively their sporting performance,Academic performance ,Social performance .other performance-related stress and their wellness for sustainable development and functional communities.

Child development, care,coaching requires a lot of intentional step and strategies hence the need for the #mentorme to focus on intentional engagement to continue to build their resilience,enhancing their self esteem, improving their emotional regulation, developing healthy coping strategies and positive relationships through our psychosocial engagements which fosters self awareness ,confidence and equipping them with practical tools to navigate difficult situations and bounce back even from known setbacks as well as transforming their difficulties arising from anxiety ,worry ,fears into strength.

For the parents, guardians, educators ,caregivers ,crude or traditional ways of engaging our children and young persons can no longer yield the desired result of addressing root causes of their various emotional and mental struggles the same with sports coaches who dwell solely on technical and tactical abilities without emphasis on their emotional, mental, psychological and general well being  which will aid them to constantly remain productive.

Our children and young persons will continually be engaged and same with parents, sports coaches, educators and other gatekeepers in trying to make this program sustainable with measurable impact and outcomes.

In a major boost to grassroots football development, Fr. Eburuaja Football Club has teamed up with Gulf United Football Club Dubai to organize a high-profile International Football Scouting Program set to take place in Imo State, Nigeria.

The scouting event, scheduled for July 22nd to 27th, 2025, will be hosted at the ISU-Nwagele Stadium. The program aims to discover and nurture raw football talents from across Nigeria, providing them with a platform to launch international careers. Coaches and scouts from Gulf United FC, one of the rising clubs in the UAE football scene, are expected to be in attendance.

This initiative reinforces the commitment of Fr. Eburuaja FC to youth empowerment and football excellence. Stakeholders in the Nigerian football ecosystem have praised the partnership as a timely opportunity for young players to gain global exposure right from their home soil.