Atlantic Integral Football Academy (AIFA), based in Suleja, Niger State, unveiled a sports centre on Saturday in its bid to develop sports from the grassroots.

The sports centre was commissioned by the Emir of Suleja, Awwal Ibrahim, CON, who was represented by Shaibu Gani, a district head in Suleja.

The centre comprises a five-a-side pitch, dressing rooms, a gymnasium and a football viewing hall.

The event had in attendance representatives of the Suleja Local Government chairman, the emir of Suleja, an official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and football stakeholders.

In his opening remarks, Isiyaka Achimugu, the director of AIFA, said the inspiration was not just for football development, but also to reduce unemployment by engaging youths.

“This sports centre is not just for our football academy. It is also for community development. We want to reduce unemployment in our own little way,” he said.

Coach of AIFA Academy, Emmanuel Steven, lauded the director of the academy for his passion for sports.

“We are grateful to the director of AIFA, Isiyaka Achimugu. He is very passionate about about sports and youth development.

“This is why we won the Niger FA President Cup in our first year as a club.”

“When we started, we had no pitch. We would wake up very early to train at GSS Suleja before students arrive, now we have a mini stadium. We are so happy,” he said.

Obinna, one of the football players at AIFA, said the players feel at home at the academy.

“AIFA is a good team. Here they treat us like we are their children. With how passionate our director is, I believe we will be signing for European clubs soon,” he said.

Tajaddeen Tiamiyu, a senior officer in the NFF Store Department, represented by Abubakar Moshood, the chairman of the Suleja Coaches Association, described the sports centre as the first of its kind in Suleja.

“We are grateful to the director of AIFA. The players will benefit from this innovation. We really appreciate him,” he said.

The community head, Hassan Sa’idu, said the sports centre had brought awareness to his community.

“We are very happy. My community was silent before now, but this centre has brought people here and I believe it will continue to affect us positively,” he said.

The management of AIFA also announced plans to hold an annual Super League five-a-side competition to aid its football talent-hunt programme. 

(NAN)