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By Ebenezer Bajela.
Ex-internationals Friday Ekpo and Friday Elahor have commended the management of RCCG Directorate of Sports for the initiative in launching the Dove U-15 and U-17 sports academy, The PUNCH reports.
The launching which had in attendance dignitaries took place at the Redeemer High School sports field on Saturday.
According to the organisers, the project will help discover talents with the opportunity to study abroad through scholarship as well as tours to Europe, Brazil and South Africa.
Commenting on the development, Ekpo, who represented the Nigeria national football team from 1989 to 1993, lauded the effort of the orgainsers.
“I feel so happy to be here to see what Redeem Church of God is doing to develop young talented athletes starting from the grassroots to the highest level of their careers,” he told The PUNCH.
“This is a great development and I wish schools and other churches can emulate this. What they have started, I can only pray that they sustain it and even if it means bringing in professionals like us to see to the development of this grassroots project which is a big one for the country.
“It is important we go back to our grassroots to see that we bring out the very best of talent and it is possible to get them here because I saw two brilliant kids during their session and with proper training they will develop into world-class.”
Elahor, who had 14 caps playing for Super Eagles added, “Some of us started from projects like this and to where we got to and I am confident that we will get some talents here because I have seen them and with good hands and good facilities we can get great athletes here.
“Redeem deserves a very big applaud for what they are doing because it is not just about prayers alone, they have also contributed to the development of sports too and they should be commended.”