Vemard Africa FC, Nanka, a Nationwide League One side, has said that 60 per cent of its team will be reserved for talented players from Anambra.
The Chairman of the club, Chidi Okonkwo, said this on Tuesday, during an interaction with newsmen in Nanka, ahead of the official unveiling of the club on February 14.
The club, which has existed for about four years in Enugu, would officially relocate to NEROS stadium, Nanka, on Friday.
Highlights of the unveiling would include novelty matches between the club and Enyimba International FC of Aba as well as between the state chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria and Nanka All Stars.
Okonkwo said the idea of the 60 per cent quota for Anambra youths was in line with the policy of the club as a grassroots team targeted at discovering, nurturing and exposing budding football talents from the state to national and international opportunities.
He called on football enthusiasts in Anambra to take ownership of the club and ensure it succeeded, saying that it was floated as a private club to serve the people of the state.
He said: “We decided to bring VEMARD Africa FC to Anambra because we want to give our youths an opportunity.
“It is our common project and I want to say that 60 per cent of the space will be filled by talented Anambra footballers.
“We have records of success in Enugu since our four years of existence and it is our target to surpass those records here in Anambra.”
Okonkwo said that the club had strong affiliation with Athletico Madrid of Spain and some French league sides, including Monaco and Lille.
He said that their vision was to play in the Nigeria National League in the 2020/2021 season, adding that players’ welfare was always paramount to the management of the club.
He thanked the owner of NEROS stadium, Poly Emenike, for making the facility available to the club, promising that they would make optimal use of it.
Also, the Coach of the club, Austin Chinwend, called for maximum support from the football community in the state, saying that players’ selection would be based on merit. (NAN)
