Imo State FA Lobbies CAN, Seeks Partnership

The new board of Imo State Football Association (FA) is seeking partnership with the stakeholders in the state for the development of the round leather game.

The FA chairman, Barr Ifeanyi Dike, made the disclosure on Monday during a courtesy call on Revd Eches Divine Eches, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imo State chapter.

He said the football body is ready to partner with the leadership of the churches in the state to promote football and peace.

He expressed gratitude to Eches for his unflinching support to the football association and appealed for more under his leadership.

Dike said the visit was to foster improved collaboration especially to tap from the huge human skills within the churches, spread across the 27 local government areas of the state.

“The aim of the visit is to fraternize with you and state our desire to always maintain the relationship started through Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, my predecessor.

“Thank you for always giving us access to CAN facilities. You have demonstrated christianity well to us such that if we were not Christians, we would have gladly embraced it.

“We intend to draw from the huge deposits of the church to foster peace and security of lives and properties across the state and beyond,” Dike said.

Responding, Revd Eches congratulated the FA chairman and his members on their election, saying only football had been proven to unite Nigerians.

“We must encourage the administration so as to encourage and affect our youths like Kelechi Iheanacho, Kanu Nwankwo, and all the others discovered on the streets, schools, and churches. I assure you on behalf of Imo CAN, that we will partner and assist you to achieve your goals and to sustain the legacies of Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, the former FA Chairman,” he said.

Immediate past FA chairman, Uchegbulam who was part of the visit thanked Eches for support to his football administration career at the Nigerian Football Federation and Imo FA.