Players, coaches and officials of Unizee Football Academy are maintaining a continuous surge with the Agbowa-based outfit, despite the challenges of distance, low finance and inadequate personal confronting them.
This was disclosed by the academy’s founder and chairman, Mr Yinus Adekunle Shokoya, who told Sports247 in an exclusive interview that he is determined to succeed in spite of all hurdles standing against him.
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Shokoya keeps radiating hope and confidence, as he charts the way forward for the academy and their female squad, Sheilas Queens, at Sacred Heart Estate, Odo Ayandelu, off Agbowa-Sagamu Road.
The pivotal member of Association of Proprietors of Football Academies of Nigeria (APFAN) started by pointing out that the team has been in existence for 27 years, but they are not relenting in their efforts to create legacies for Nigerian football.
Shokoya recounted, “The academy was established officially in 2019, but we had been playing some matches off and on before then. We were officially incorporated in 2019, and we are waxing strong.
“We used to be at Ikorodu, where we started operations. After some years, we acquired land at Agbowa, and we relocated. That was six years ago and, since then, we’ve been growing rapidly.
“Within that time, we’ve been able to erect a hostel facility and maintain a standard football pitch with natural grass. We are also affiliated with Ikorodu FA and Lagos State FA.
“We play in Lagos State League and other tournaments. We also have a female team named Sheilas FC, and they are also doing very well, while we hope to do even better.”
He also noted various challenges confronting the outfit then put forward a solemn call for corporate bodies and individuals to step forward as sponsors for the team.
Shokoya added, “We’ve faced so many challenges … from funding to personnel and distance. Our location, which is still a developing site, is not so populated.
“That gives us a challenge of getting players who are willing to come to our camp and for people coming to patronise us. We’ve been struggling with those factors, especially funding and distance.
“We’ve been seeking sponsorship for a very long time, but we’ve not been able to secure any. That’s been a major challenge for us, and carrying the financial burden has been a heavy pain for me.”
The astute youth developer and promoter of school sports initiatives concluded by raising hope for better days ahead of Unizee Football Academy … because he won’t relent in his efforts.
“Because of the passion and faith that I have in this business, I keep on pushing. That’s why we are still standing up till now, and I believe favour will still come our way.
“We all know that football is serious business globally; but we are struggling to reach that point in this part of the world. All the same, we will keep on trying the best way we can.
“We need sponsorship, we need partnerships and we need the presence of venture capitalists in this team. We need them to come in and support us, so that we can get better. Talents abound here.
“We have them in abundance, but we need finance to propel them to limelight. We also need expert personnel who know about the business of football to come here and support us to grow bigger and faster,” Shokoya supplicated.
