BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja
Football development in Nigeria got a big boost during the week when the World Governing body, FIFA disclosed its readiness to partner with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to actualize the football made in Anambra state initiative of the Anambra State Football Association.

Infantino

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino who gave the endorsement described the project as a major developmental project in Nigeria added that such efforts will go a long way in assisting developing countries to take the beautiful game to the grassroots. He however said that such projects must be anchored through the football associations.

Recall that the Anambra state FA recently launched the 50,000 Footballers for 50,000 Homes Project aimed at raising footballers from every family in the state.

Infantino, while applauding the idea said he had already discussed the project with the Chairman of the Anambra state FA, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah noting that the project when actualized would be of immense benefit to Nigeria.

He further revealed that FIFA would want to encourage its member bodies to use the recent increase in football development fund to key into such laudable developmental initiatives.

“It is a very important project that the Anambra state FA is undertaking. We have discussed this with the chairman of the FA and you know that FIFA is very active in the development of the game through the local associations.”

We are going to embrace the project through the NFF, whatever FIFA can do to encourage the project and even produce more that 50,000 players in the country, we will do. This is exactly the direction we want to see the member associations to follow and we are very happy that such a programme is coming from Nigeria”.

Commenting on the issue, Chairman of Anambra State FA, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah said he was delighted that FIFA was ready to key into the project which he added was initiated develop football in Anambra State.

“Now that FIFA has keyed into the 50,000 footballers project of the Anambra state FA with the assurance that they will supports us technically, I am so happy for this will go a long way to prove that we are truly ready to make the project a reality” he concluded.