A youth football promoter in the Akowonjo area of Egbeda, Lagos, Timilehin Ahmed has revealed that his team, Pumah Football Academy, is different from Puma FC of Surulere and he explained how.
Sports247 reports that Ahmed, who is the academy’s director, disclosed that he deliberately added ‘H’ after ‘Puma’ during its corporate registration process so that the name will not clash with others before it.
He recounted how the team began operations in 2008 at Ebenezer Primary School, off Bale Bus Stop, and expressed satisfaction with the progress they have achieved so far.
Ahmed also thanked one of his closest friends, Abiodun Ashaolu for stepping in as coach of the side after hanging his boots from active football with Lion Heart FC of Lagos.
“This academy is built on the power of friendship,” Ahmed told Sports247 in an exclusive interview. “That’s why my coach is one of my very good friends.
“We grew up together in Akowonjo and we have been friends for a very long time. I did not play much of football but he was a very strong centre back.
“Now we are working together to develop these young ones so that they can be good footballers and well-behaved human beings in the future.”
Sports247 gathered further that, although the name ‘Pumah’ came about through registration regulations at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Ahmed is happy that it has given his team a creative identification tag that makes it distinct from others.
This means his team should not be mistaken for Puma FC of Surulere that was set up by former Super Falcons assistant coach, late Joy Nnenna Etim at the hockey pitch of Lagos National Stadium.
Coach Joy’s team, which is still being run by her husband, TM Emmanuel Etim produced talented players like USA-based Elijah Ukpong, who won a football reality show presented by John Fashanu in 2008.
Other products of the Surulere-based Puma FC included two of the owners’ children, Comfort Etim (now based in England) and Emmanuel Etim Jnr of Nigeria Info FM.
