Uboma agog for NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup, as teams arrive
"It's a pathway to achieving success in life with their football career, they will be engaging some invited European Football Scouts and Sporting Directors with their enormous skills and talents.
By Olusola Adebayo
Uboma, Imo State, venue of the inaugural NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup is agog with the arrival of the 18 teams, as preparations put in place by the Nationwide League One are in top gear for a successful hosting of the tournament.
The Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex, in Ihitte/Uboma LGA, will host matches of the NLO Super League which kicks off on Wednesday, September 6 with an opening fixture between Summer FC and Ave FC.
Chief Operating Officer of the nation's third-tier league and an astute grassroots football administrator per excellence, Olushola Ogunnowo spoke ahead of the kickoff.
"Preparations are in top gear, as we're set for the NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup to kick off. The 18 clubs have arrived, and two clubs sent a correspondence informing of their withdrawal owing to logistics and distance.
"In a swift reaction, they were immediately replaced with the best losers within this region, looking at distance and time to prepare for the tourney.
"Campos FC who replaced Buratai FC (Yobe State) after they withdrew from the NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup finished runners-up in the Awka Zone, and they are from Imo State, so it was easy for them to be in Uboma.
"Also, Bare United a team from Gombe State pulled out and we were to replace them with the Feeders Team of Giant Brillars, as it was tough finding another team.
"The NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup is not a promotion or relegation playoff but a friendly tourney that will be used to showcase the best youth teams in the Nationwide League One.
"It's a pathway to achieving success in life with their football career, they will be engaging some invited European Football Scouts and Sporting Directors with their enormous skills and talents.
"The long run of this is, since the NLO doesn't have money to give to them at the end of the tourney, but compensates the clubs, who take the benefits of their players being picked and thereafter market them.
"However, the facility here is good and all logistics have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free tournament."
