A modest football club owned by some Nigerians based in the United States of America will this season be chasing glory back home in the country’s third-tier league.
This is sequel to the emergence of Super Green FC among the ranks of clubs preparing for action this season in Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO).
This much has been disclosed by the club’s newly appointed head coach, Jamiu Mohammed Isa, who enthused that the team will do well when action eventually begins.
The graduate of National Institute for Sports (NIS) in Lagos, who had a spell in England, when he tried to propel his playing career but was eventually forced out by a nagging knee injury.
He enters the new job post with experience from his previous days with British Council’s Community Action Through Sport (CATS), Dreams & Teams, Premier Skills, Help The Talent Project, Cowbell Football Academy and Dominion Hotspur FC of Lagos.
Isa, though, will once again be on the way out of Lagos, as the new club, which will be officially known as SGFC Athletics, will be based in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The youthful tactician, who styles himself as ‘The Future One’:and aims to replicate the technical style of Pep Guardiola, enthused that he has finally found the place of his breakthrough.
He reasoned that the combination of young players with experienced ones, including four top stars that are returning home to Nigeria from the USA, will propel SGFC to greater height in the NLO.
First up for them, though, is a trip to Ikenne, Ogun State for a pre-season 10-team competition tagged Evolution Cup.
Isa admitted it will not be a stroll in the park for him and his players, but he quickly interjected that support from their USA-based owners will see them through, as they seek a ticket into Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) within the shortest time possible.
SGFC’s board, based in Maryland, USA, is headed by the president/CEO, Richard Opanuga; as well as vice-president Paul Akinrimisi and director of sports management, Chukwudi Chukwudubelu, who Isa said have been very resourceful within the shirt he has spent with the team.
‘The Future One’ concluded by taking a look at the impact he wants to create with the club, which he promised will try to involve young players and fresh school leavers in their activities.
Isa concluded, thus: “We are currently recruiting for Nationwide League One (NLO) and we will be based in Ilorin, Kwara State.
“Four International players from SGFC in the United States will join the club in Ilorin to start preparation for the season.
“The team will take part in a pre-season tournament holding in Remo Stars’ ground at Ikenne, tagged Evolution Cup, will feature 10 NLO club’s from different parts of Nigeria to prepare for the start of the league.
“We look forward to getting a crop of good and young talented lads mixed with experienced players for the league.”
