Nigeria: Sunderland Partners Kano Govt On Football Academy

David Ngobua

17 July 2011

English Premier League side, Sunderland Football Club has agreed to partner with the Kano State government on joint ownership of a football academy.

This was disclosed to Fever Pitch in a telephone interview with Malam Jaafar Jaafar who is the media aide to the state governor, Dr. Musa Rabi’u Kwakwaso.

He explained that the initiative of the state government which was jumped at by the English side is aimed at identifying and developing the football skills of youths in the state.

The governor’s aide said already a committee headed by the former NFA Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima is working out modalities for a successful take off of the academy.

Jaafar Jaafar said the committee will in the next couple of weeks come out with decisions on the location of the academy and how the partnership will work without hitches.

“Yes, I can confirm that Sunderland FC of England have agreed to partner the Kano State government on a football academy to be based here in Kano.

“A committee being chaired by the former NFA chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima has been saddled with the responsibility of working out all the modalities for a smooth take off of the academy.

“This is one of the ways the governor, His Excellency, Dr. Kwakwaso wants to positively engage the youths of the state. It is an opportunity for those gifted in football to develop their talent and make a career out of it”, he explained.

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