The President of Diamond Football Academy, Hon Ikechukwu Martins Apugo, has revealed how within the period of seven years, his club has sent over 15 players to Europe, with 10 more players preparing to leave the shores of Nigeria.
Hon Apugo who made this known to newsmen during the club’s 7th year anniversary celebration cum end of the year party held at the Diamond Football stadium in Umuahia, said the diamond football club has raised players that are now playing in European countries including the Super Eagles player, Samuel Chukwueze.
He said he entered the football business thirty years ago, simply to transform lives and for the past seven years diamond football was rolled out, it has been from one success story to another.
Hon Apugo said he is a fanatic fan of football and that was what inspired him to enter into the business of football one year after his secondary school education in 1988 ,under the then Imo state.
As a young guy,he said the passion for football kept him in the business, even when there was no money in it, but today the story has changed.
According to him, no fewer than 15 players from his academy have been signed up in European clubs, adding that many more will soon be signed up in countries like Portugal, Turkey, Brazil, Argentina among others, including the captain of the team,who will be leaving for Israel today.
While urging the players to be good to all, the president of the academy, further thanked the players and the officials who have given their best for the tournament, stressing that the year 2020 would be better off.
Speaking with Anieze Christian,an indigene of Enugu state,who would soon be signed up in Turkey, expressed gratitude to God and the President of the club for setting up such a platform to grow young talents in football.
He said the Academy has impacted a lot on him,describing it as a veritable platform for the youths to grow their career.
According to Christian, in the Academy you are forced to drop whatever negative character or habits you came with to adopt good characters, thereby enhancing your skills.
He further promised to be a good representative of the Academy.
Highpoint of the event was the cutting of the 7th year anniversary cake, awarding of scholarship to a young female Keke rider, Treasure Isaac, who got into the Keke business because of lack of fund to go to school and the conferring of awards to some players who have distinguished themselves for the year, ranging from the Most Valuable Player of the year, Best Defender, Best Keeper, Best Striker,Best Midfielder, Most Disciplined Player, Most Friendly Player, Utility Player of the year among others.
