The Chairman, Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, Emeka Inyama, has challenged various state football associations to organize strong and virile league for local club sides in their states to act as a foundation for the discovery of budding stars who could be nurtured for national teams.
Inyama, who threw the challenge in Umuahia when members of the Abia State Football Association called on him, lamented that local State league competitions which created waves in the past, was fast becoming extinct as most state FAs no longer pay seniors attention to it.
He noted that going back to the grassroots will enable the country discover more hidden talents and promised that Abia Warriors Youth Team will participate actively in the State league which the Abia FA is planning to organize.
Inyama, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL) Board, commended the cordial relationship currently existing between the Abia FA and clubsides in the State, pointing out that the situation is so because the members are united.
He used the opportunity to commend the State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, for his support to sports generally and football in particular, describing him as a square peg in a square hole while promising that Abia Warriors will make the state proud at the end of the season.
Earlier, the Chairman of Abia State Football Association, Ephraim Chukuemeka, said they had come to present the new executive to the chairman after their last election in which he noted, Inyama supported them highly to emerge.
Chukuemeka, who described Abia Warriors as partners in progress, pointed out the club is run with the highest international standard and promised that the football will always stand by the club at all times.