A FIFA licensed agent, Isha Isaac Izam believes Nigeria would return to the powerhouse of world football only if all hands are on deck.
Isha, who played and captained Jazzy Stars Football Academy of Jos before becoming FIFA agent abroad, made the statement during his visit to the Plateau State Football Association’s secretariat in Jos yesterday.
He explained that there were millions of youths in Nigeria who have talents, but weren’t able to harness their potentials as a result of bad system and management.
“But if all hands would be on deck, Nigeria can be a power house of the world football.
“This can only be achieved by keeping the youths positively busy and helping them achieve their dreams, which includes sponsoring sports competitions, providing adequate sporting facilities and connecting the ones that are outstanding to outside Nigeria,” he said.
Isha commended Plateau FA for the hard work in making sure that football on the Plateau returns to those years when at least 30% of any Nigeria national teams’ players cut their professional teeth in Jos.
He said, “Players like Segun Odegbami, Baba Otu, Mohammed, Ismaila Mabo, the Atuegbu brothers, Ali Jeje, James Obiora, Benedict Akwuegbu, Sani Adamu, John Mikel Obi and Ahmed Musa, among many others all started their football careers from Jos and it was a result of the effort put by the Plateau FA.”
He added that he came home on a short visit from Asia to pick some talented players from Jazzy Stars Football Academy and Nigeria for lucrative contracts abroad.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Plateau State Football Association, Sunday Samson Longbap called on Plateau State indigenes home and abroad to work together with the apex football authority to return the state to the Mecca of football it used to be in Nigeria.
Longbap also commended Izam for buying jerseys for the grassroots clubs, boots for outstanding players and sponsoring an annual competition in the state to unearth hidden talents.a
