By Ikenna Nwokedi
The Proprietor of Alelluia Football Academy of Awka, Mr Elochukwu Hyginus Nwosu has disclosed that the football academy was set up to raise the next generation of super stars from Awka through the instrumentality of football.
The Awka-born football scout and administrator stated this during a chat with sports writers in Awka on Wednesday, 5th March 2025.
Nwosu said that the aspiration of establishing the football academy for players of 13 years and below is to churn out hidden talents from the grassroots and bring them to limelight through the platform where they can be spotted by international scouts as well as fulfil the dreams of the young lads of playing professional football as a career while still in the course of their academic pursuit.
Nwosu disclosed that the football academy which is less than a year old was conceived during his visit to Nnewi town to feature in an All Stars match for Awka All Stars where they witnessed a set of young footballers of Under-13 category playing in a tournament and entertaining the crowd with scintillating display of football artistry.
He informed that the football academy has over 50 players playing for the team while the official team play ground is at the Ayom Na Okpala football pitch, Amaenyi, Awka.
Nwosu said: “Alelluia FA is a football academy established for the purpose of producing the next generation of super stars in Awka through the game of football. The football academy is basically for players who are below thirteen (13) years of age and are still schooling while a platform such as this is made available to churn out young talented footballers who dream of making a career in the round leather game.
“The passion I have for the game was what led to the floating of this football academy and the motivation came when I witnessed a set of young footballers below the age of thirteen featuring in a tournament at Nnewi when I went with my club, Awka All Stars, for a novelty match and immediately I conceived the idea and decided with a host of others with me that we can replicate this in the administrative capital of the state.
“The football academy is less than a year old and we have more than 50 young footballers under the tutelage of Coach Ebuka Okoye “Coach Nwababy” from umuoramma here in Awka who is among the best coaches in Awka judging by his experience of raising footballers some of who now play for NPFL and NNL clubs in the state and beyond,” Nwosu stated.
The young football administrator also disclosed that he caters for some of the needs of the players such as paying of their tuition fees and offering some financial assistance all geared towards ensuring that they have a successful academic path and also achieve their dreams of playing football as a career.
Nwosu revealed that the football academy has a technical crew headed by Mr. Ebuka Okoye AKA Coach Nwababy with other management staff as Ifeanyi Anichebe (Team Manager), Uchechukwu Celestine Obi (Team Secretary), Emeka Nwogbo (Curator), an official of Authentic Film as the club’s media officer while the club’s patrons are Ikechukwu Lawrence Nwaekwe and Ikechukwu Nwimo.
