The proprietor of Sparkling Eagles Sports Academy, Mr Akin Akinbobola, says the academy will combine education with sports development to groom future champions for the country.
Akinbobola, who said this at a ceremony to unveil the academy on Monday in Akure, added that the project was conceived to fill the gap in the discovery and grooming process of young athletes.
The dream of the academy, he said, was to identify the talents early and develop them to stardom.
He expressed optimism that in the next few years, products of the academy would be doing excellently well in the football arena.
Akinbobola said that the academy was not focusing only on football, but on almost all sports, adding ” we are just starting with the king of all sports, football.”
He urged parents to do all they could to support their kids to attain their best potentials in their career.
Earlier, the Chairman of Ondo State House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, Mr Adewale Williams, had urged the pioneer pupils of the academy to aim high and believe in their ability to excel professionally.
Williams expressed delight at the lofty idea behind the establishment of the academy, stressing that the vision of the institution would give the pupils self confidence to become self reliant.
He urged the coaches and instructors to ensure the academy achieved the set goals of developing grassroots football.
Williams also promised that his committee would assist the academy to achieve greatness.
A parent, Mrs Tosin Adepetu, appealed to the pupils to turn their dreams into passion.
” With what I’m seeing here today, I am convinced that children can play football and still excel in their academic affairs, “she said.(NAN)
