Special Interview: Ahudiya Nnem will soon rule African football -Chief Onyeani

Dr. Chief Robert Onyeani is a businessman, grassroots football promoter and philanthropist.

He is also the President of Ahudiya Nnem FC based in Abiriba, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.

Chief Onyeani was recently bestowed with an award during the just concluded Newstap/ SWAN Five Star Award in recognition of his efforts in grassroots football development in the country.

In this  interview with our correspondent, he spoke on his love for football, his plans for his teams (men and women) and how Nigerian football can move forward. Excerpts.

Chief, can you  introduce yourself to our readers?

Answer: My name like you know is Dr. (Chief) Robert Onyeani. I am a native of Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State. I am a  business man who has been involved in sports all my life.

Presently, I am  the founder and President of Ahudiya Nnem Football Club which is made up of both men and women’s teams and I am happy with what the two clubs have achieved under few years of their formation.

Can you tell us what made you go into football business?

Answer: Like I said earlier, I have been actively involved in sports especially football right from my youth and as somebody who is passionate about youth development, I felt that it will be good to use my God given wealth to impact positively on talented youths of the country who ordinarily will not have anybody to help them achieve their objectives in the round leather game.

When we started, it wasn’t easy and some of my friends discouraged me from going into football business because it is capital intensive and time consuming but I stood my ground. Right now,  anytime I look back and see the number of youths, coaches and backroom staff whom I have impacted their lives by giving them not only employment but opportunity to exhibit their talents,  I feel fulfilled.

One would like to know how you came about the name Ahudiya Nnem as the name of your  Football Clubs.

Answer : That’s a very good question. Ahudiya Nnem is the name of my late mother and I chose it to honour a woman of substance. A woman who endured sufferings to make  sure that her children never lacked anything.

So, the name is in memory of my late mother because after her demise, I decided that the best way to honour and immortalize  her is to name my clubs after her as a memorial.

Your team Ahudiya Nnem created a very big upset during last year’s Abia FA Cup finals by defeating Enyimba FC and Abia Warriors. But after that the team lost its  steam, what do you think contributed to this drop in form.

Answer: Actually when we played in the Abia FA Cup last season, nobody gave us a chance to qualify even from the preliminaries. But with hard work, determination, good welfare package and conducive environment I created for the team, they were able to defeat two time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC of Aba, thereby gaining the tag giant killers.

However, like you rightly pointed out, instead of the team consolidating  on that victory, they started losing form which is unfortunate.

I believe they were carried away by that achievement which is not peculiar to my club but the most important thing is that I have discovered where we got it wrong and the remedy is already being put in place.

Having said this,I want to inform you that I have already carried out some surgical operation on the two teams; both the male and women’s teams and I can assure you that very soon, the result will start coming in.

Looking back to when you started your grassroots football development, would you say you have achieved your objectives!

I wouldn’t say we have achieved hundred percent success because it’s a  process but considering the number of years we have been in business, I will say we’re gradually getting there. We have world class facilities in our camp at Abiriba and we are competing with teams who are years older than us and giving them a run for their money, to me that’s enough achievement. But we’ll keep on improving and breaking new grounds and I believe we’re gradually getting to our destination.

Where would you like to see Ahudiya Nnem in the next five years?

Answer: We’re building a structure that will not only make the team a big player but a household name in  football in this country.

Having said this, I want to say that in the next five years, I will like to see the two teams not only dominating  the country’s domestic league but the continent.

This I know is achievable, considering what I have put in place for the teams.

We hear you are not just funding Ahudiya Nnem FC but putting facilities in place in Abiriba for the team, how true is this?

Answer: what you heard is very correct. We are building a world class state of the art stadium in Abiriba that would serve as the home of Ahudiya Nnem FC. The edifice we are constructing would have all the facilities a modern arena should have and my dream is to complete that project before the end of this year.

Just recently, you were among the five eminent Nigerians that received the Newstap/ SWAN Five Star Award. What does this award mean to you?

Answer: I was surprised to be nominated for the award because I wasn’t expecting it. The award coming from a reputable organisation like Newstap and the umbrella body of sports writers in this country (SWAN) is a testament that Nigerians appreciate what I am doing in grassroots football development in this country.

Actually, I never knew people were watching me and to me, the award is also a challenge for me to do more for the talented youths of this country and I must commend the award nomination committee for finding me worthy for such a prestigious award.

As a person who have been involved in grassroots football development in the country for many years, what’s your take on the proliferation of football academies in the country.

Answer: Well, like I always say, there must be modalities put in place by the various state football associations to check the proliferation of football academies in their states. There must be strict rules on registering of football academies so as to prevent our innocent youths falling into the hands of people who have no business being in football

The youths on the other hand must be careful on football academies they register with. It’s important they find out whether such academies can help their career development or not and also the quality of the coaching crew.

There’s no denying the fact that Nigerian football has gone down considerably, as a stakeholder in Nigerian football, how would you like the situation to be remedied?

Answer : The truth of the matter is that we have neglected grassroots football development in this country over the years and not until we go back to the basics, we will never get it right.

There’s need for Nigeria to re-introduce Principals Cup and other youth championships where talents can be discovered and nurtured to stardom.

Nigeria is a big country with many talented youths, be it in football, boxing, wrestling,  athletics or table tennis amongst others but lack of proper grassroots development programme is affecting sports development.

It was part of this reason that I floated two grassroots football teams so as to develop talents at the grassroots and I’m happy with the progress so far made in this regard.

Do you have any regret going into football business?

Answer. I don’t have any regret going into football business because what I am doing gives me joy and satisfaction. I always feel happy and fulfilled  seeing  some of these young boys and girls exhibiting their talents. Football is a big business and when managed properly, your investment will not go down the drain and as such I don’t have any regret going into football business rather, I enjoin well meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to take football business serious and use it to fight criminality, youth restiveness and other social vices.

What advice do you have for talented grassroots footballers in  the country?

Answer : My advice to upcoming footballers  is that they should be focused, determined, take their trainings serious and listen to the advice of their coaches.