By Uzor Odigbo
Super Eagles former captain Joseph Ikpo Yobo has resolved to delve into track&field and table-tennis in his new sports academy ready for launch next year.
The erstwhile Everton fc defender harped on this on Talk radio in Lagos recently insisting that football is not the only sport that has growing talents to tap.
“I started as an athlete before I delved into football, that was the reason my new sports academy that would be launched next year will explore ways to get talents from track&field make them excel.
He explained that being an athlete was so helpful in his football carrier such that he had no problem outwitting other players in ball game.
“I was very fast and it helped my football as a defender, that’s why I would revert to my first love, blend it with table-tennis which I’m also good at. When these talents come together they would be tailored into their area of specialization”.
Yobo insisted that his desire in establishing a football academy is to give back to his community, country and also impact his long years of experience in the youth to grow their talents.
“The sports academy will be cited in Lagos and another one in his community in Ogoni to draw talents from the immediate environment I came from. I believe that sports and education improve players brand”.
Education is key because the expected talents would need education to project their talents further, we are putting the structures together and by next year full launch would be announced.
The former Standard Liege fc of Belgium stopper revealed how shocked he was on hearing that compatriot Victor Moses has unceremoniously exited the national team. “I believe something must have happened that caused him to ditch the national team and I’m going to ask him. He is one of our best”.
On Super Eagles manager Genart Rohr’s performance at the world cup, Yobo opined that aside the first match against Croatia, the second and third matches were better except that match management was lacking. Pressed on whether Rohr should be sacked, Yobo was indifference saying, Rohr should be given another opportunity to manage the national team.
Yobo was also of the view that football in Nigeria is steadily going down and proposed the need to halt the ugly trend. “Countries that usually fear Nigerian team are now beating us. New players are coming into the team and the coach is also new, therefore, blending is key for progress to be achieved.
The player who did not play in the Nigerian League before plying his football abroad commended the Lagos state governor Akinwumi Ambode for his effort in Lagos state and concluded that, “Venturing into politics would be a thing of the future for me”.
The erstwhile Everton fc defender harped on this on Talk radio in Lagos recently insisting that football is not the only sport that has growing talents to tap.
“I started as an athlete before I delved into football, that was the reason my new sports academy that would be launched next year will explore ways to get talents from track&field make them excel.
He explained that being an athlete was so helpful in his football carrier such that he had no problem outwitting other players in ball game.
“I was very fast and it helped my football as a defender, that’s why I would revert to my first love, blend it with table-tennis which I’m also good at. When these talents come together they would be tailored into their area of specialization”.
Yobo insisted that his desire in establishing a football academy is to give back to his community, country and also impact his long years of experience in the youth to grow their talents.
“The sports academy will be cited in Lagos and another one in his community in Ogoni to draw talents from the immediate environment I came from. I believe that sports and education improve players brand”.
Education is key because the expected talents would need education to project their talents further, we are putting the structures together and by next year full launch would be announced.
The former Standard Liege fc of Belgium stopper revealed how shocked he was on hearing that compatriot Victor Moses has unceremoniously exited the national team. “I believe something must have happened that caused him to ditch the national team and I’m going to ask him. He is one of our best”.
On Super Eagles manager Genart Rohr’s performance at the world cup, Yobo opined that aside the first match against Croatia, the second and third matches were better except that match management was lacking. Pressed on whether Rohr should be sacked, Yobo was indifference saying, Rohr should be given another opportunity to manage the national team.
Yobo was also of the view that football in Nigeria is steadily going down and proposed the need to halt the ugly trend. “Countries that usually fear Nigerian team are now beating us. New players are coming into the team and the coach is also new, therefore, blending is key for progress to be achieved.
The player who did not play in the Nigerian League before plying his football abroad commended the Lagos state governor Akinwumi Ambode for his effort in Lagos state and concluded that, “Venturing into politics would be a thing of the future for me”.
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