There was a time when Nigeria’s streets and sandy pitches overflowed with uncooked footballing abilities. From Ajegunle to Kaduna, from Jos to Enugu. It was the golden period that produced iconic stars like Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, and extra lately, Victor Osimhen.
At this time, that once-reliable conveyor belt of world-class gamers seems damaged, forcing the nation to rely more and more on foreign-born abilities of Nigerian descent.
For Kelvin IriKefe, fondly often called Don Kefe, founding father of AJ Lischester FC of Ajegunle, the grassroots membership that produced Odion Ighalo and Brown Ideye, the decline shouldn’t be unintended. It’s, he says, “a product of presidency neglect, poor teaching, and misplaced ardour.”
Having spent over three many years in soccer improvement, Kefe speaks with the conviction of expertise and the ache of somebody who has watched goals fade earlier than his eyes.
“Up to now, grassroots soccer was pushed purely by ardour,” he lamented. “Now, it’s about cash. Many coaches right this moment are extra like portfolio managers, they chase connections as an alternative of nurturing actual expertise.”
Kefe additionally faults the federal government for permitting the very basis of soccer to break down.
“Again then, each neighborhood had a soccer subject,” he recalled. “At this time, these areas have been changed into retailers and buildings. With out infrastructure, grassroots soccer can’t thrive.”
He argues that real soccer improvement goes far past coaching periods. It calls for structured teaching training, participant insurance coverage, physiotherapy, welfare methods, and long-term planning.
“Soccer has moved to the boardroom,” Kefe stated. “Till the federal government and stakeholders construct methods that defend and empower younger gamers, Nigeria will preserve shedding its brightest abilities.”
Regardless of his criticism, Kefe stays hopeful particularly concerning the position of the media in rebuilding the sport.
“I commend sports activities journalists for selling younger gamers,” he added. “Maintain shining the highlight on them. That’s how we’ll rebuild Nigerian soccer.”
But, Kefe’s perspective is not only that of a coach however of somebody whose personal dream was reduce quick.
“I began like each different child on the road, taking part in soccer out of ardour and dreaming of turning into a celebrity,” he recalled. “However accidents ended my very promising profession.”
Even then, his love for the sport by no means died. Within the early Nineteen Eighties, Kefe starred as a striker for UAC FC within the Lagos Tremendous League — one of the crucial aggressive sides of that period.
He later represented the University of Jos and the NYSC group, and captained the Federal School of Arts and Science, Lagos between 1985 and 1986.
The squad that featured future legends like Uduka Ugbade and Babatunde Joseph, each members of Nigeria’s historic 1985 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning group.
When accidents ended his taking part in profession, Kefe turned his heartbreak into function, founding AJ Lischester FC in Ajegunle.
The grassroots academy gone forward to produced prime professionals, together with Odion Ighalo and Brown Ideye, who went on to characterize Nigeria at worldwide degree.
By way of the years, Kefe has not solely coached but additionally housed and supported younger gamers, offering meals, steerage, and self-discipline to assist them pursue their goals amid the struggles of life in Ajegunle.
And although the highway stays tough for Nigerian grassroots soccer, Don Kefe’s story and his enduring perception in youth — reminds us that Nigeria shouldn’t be in need of expertise.
