The Managing Director of West Ham FC, London, Angus Kinnear, yesterday described the Chairman of Anambra FA and proprietor of FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, as a man of vision and ideas, judging from his quality achievements.

He made the statement while addressing the mammoth crowd that gathered at Ifeanyi Ubah Sports Complex Nnewi to mark the official start off of partnership with West Ham United in the development of sports in Anambra State.

He pointed out that he has seen great talents among the young footballers gathered from across the 21 local government areas of the state who were kitted with FC Ifeanyi Ubah outfits from the jersey to the boot.

The MD of West Ham FC noted that football is not just a game based on its capacity to turn lives around for the best saying that his club has a long history of youthful football and as such would collaborate with FC Ifeanyi Ubah to develop the budding talents in the state.

Delivering his speech, Ubah described West Ham FC as one of the best football academy and that Anambra State has so much to benefit from the partnership particularly the ‘Made in Anambra football’ project which is expected to engage 50,000 families in the state.

He hinted on the development that has so far taken place in the Ifeanyi Ubah International stadium in just seven months.

Ubah noted that football is the next hope of the future and that he is determined to make Anambra State key into the future and empowerment as 1,000 youths from the state would be enacted into his scholarship as well as his football academy.

On his part, Sen. Alphonsus Igbeke described Dr. Ubah as a man of innovation who makes impossible possible. He described Ubah who is also the publisher of AUTHORITY Newspaper as a man of unprecedented philanthropy and a gift of nature to humanity.

While contributing, ex Falcon player and Assistant Coach of Super Falcons, Ann Agumanu-Chiejina, said that she was impressed with the array of stars that turned out to be part of the historic event.

She urged female players to imbibe the culture of the three Ds of Discipline, Determination and Dedication in order to make a good career out of football.

The high point of the event came when Mr. Angus Kinnear at announced a donation of £5,000 to Okongwu Memorial Grammar School and £30,000 to the Anambra State Football Association while Ifeanyi Ubah foundation also donated one million Naira to Okongwu Memorial Grammar School, his alma mater.

Personalities at the occasion included paramount traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe KON Orizu, Mr. Peter Stephenson, MD, I-Gaming Sports, Mr. John Okafor, Kanu Nwankwo and Uche Ogbuagu, among others.

Also, the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano who was represented at the epoch making event by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) hailed the oil mogul for his unparalleled efforts towards sports development in Anambra State saying that it was in tandem with his government's mantra.

He said that with the efforts being put in place, Anambra State would in no time reclaim its pride of place in sports in Nigeria.

Obiano further hailed the West Ham officials for partnering with one of Anambra’s finest.

•Photo shows West Ham FC of London Managing Director, Angus Kinnear, and Ifeanyi Ubah during the ceremony at Ifeanyi Ubah Sports Complex Nnewi to mark the official start off of partnership with West Ham United.

Update news