Rev. Father Obinna Dike

The Catholic Diocese of Awka in Anambra has blazed a Nigerian trail, by  establishing a football academy to help nurture talented boys and girls to stardom. The step came after it established Roman Catholic University, also known as Peter University in Achinna.

The Diocese’s Director of Sports, Rev. Fr. Obinna Dike  said that the establishment of the academy was in line with the human capacity development mission of the Diocese.

Known as ‘DOSAD Football Academy’,  it is expected to  enhance development of sports in general and football in particular.

He said that 35 male footballers were already in camp at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Enugwu-ukwu in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra.

“The idea of the football academy was conceived when I was at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Lagos attending a professional course in coaching.

“On my return as a grade one football coach, we established the Directorate of Sports, Awka Diocese (DOSAD) under the name DOSAD Sports.

“The sole aim of the DOSAD Sports is to identify and nurture budding talents in some sports to professional levels.

“We will be training Under 10, 13, 15 and 17 footballers in the male and female categories,’’ Dike said.

He said that before the end of this year, a female football camp would be opened at St John Vocational and Technical Institute at Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the academy, which was open to members of other churches and people of other faiths, would be managed as a truly registered professional outfit, guided by corporate governance ethics