Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has awarded ₦50 million to players and coaches of the state-sponsored Real Madrid Academy following their participation in an international football tour of Southampton, United Kingdom.
Governor Fubara announced the reward when the academy’s management, officials and players visited him at Government House in Port Harcourt to present a trophy they won during the tour.
The delegation comprised 60 students and 12 staff members who participated in the international football engagement, providing the young players with an opportunity to develop their skills, gain international exposure and experience football beyond their immediate environment.
The governor commended the academy’s management and officials for their commitment to nurturing young talents, while particularly applauding the students for their discipline and good conduct throughout the trip.
Fubara acknowledged that the academy, which combines academic education with structured football training, was established by his predecessor.
He, however, stressed that his administration would sustain the initiative, explaining that the continuity of beneficial programmes should not be determined by who initiated them.
He said his commitment was to policies and projects capable of improving the socio-economic well-being of the people, irrespective of the administration under which they began.
The governor also pledged to immediately commence efforts to address the academy’s infrastructure and funding challenges, assuring the management that the government would work towards creating a more conducive environment for the students to pursue their academic and sporting ambitions.
Governor Fubara urged the young players to take both their education and football training seriously, noting that while professional football offers significant financial opportunities, academic qualifications remain important for their future.
He highlighted the enormous economic potential of the global football industry, encouraging the students to recognise the opportunities available to talented players who combine discipline, hard work and determination.
The governor explained that the essence of the international tour was to expose the students to the realities of football on the global stage, broaden their outlook and build their confidence to compete beyond their local environment.
He expressed satisfaction with reports that some of the academy’s players had attracted interest from international football teams seeking to recruit them.
He described such developments as encouraging signs of the opportunities that international exposure could create for the young talents.
In their separate remarks, Secretary to the State Government, Dagogo Wokoma; the academy’s principal, Prudence Isaac-Harry; the tour facilitator, and former Super Eagles player Ida Peterson, commended Governor Fubara for sustaining government sponsorship of the academy and supporting the students’ participation in the international football programme.
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