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The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nationwide League One (NLO), Olushola Ogunnowo, has stated that the league body is taking the game of football back to the grassroots.
Speaking with gongnews.net ahead of the NLO Division Two Under 19 Youth League which will kicked off on Friday 8th of August across the country, Olushola said the NLO is taking the game to the rural areas and communities to bring out more of Oshimen, Simon Chukwueze and more.
“The League is always prepared to handle our events which are the league matches from Division one to Division Two through the under 19 and to some other activities around our football season which includes the playoffs into Division Two that includes coordinating the state League winners. With this, we are bringing out more Osimhen, Simon, Chukwueze etc.
When asked about how he intends to tackle the issue of security and medical issues, Ogunnowo said this as been test run before now as the the Nigeria Football Federation has approved a 5-year play to master mind the plans.
“In the year 2021, the Nigeria Football Federation approved our Five Years Master Plan and the Presidency also approved the increase of teams to 500 teams and in our 10 year plan, we want to increase to 1,000 teams and beyond. There is no community in Nigeria that did not have police and we are working with the highest authority in terms of security.
“We went to a community sometimes where we have the IPOB and in our three weeks in the community, there was no single violence. And 48 hrs after we left there was a serious attack on the security personnel in the community. That is to tell you that football unites the world. The same thing with the medical issue. Most of this teams have their own medical person or physiotherapist that takes care of the but we also have our plans.
The NPFL U19 Championship is designed to serve as a development platform for young players, with the aim of discovering talents that can progress into the professional league and national teams.
Ogunnowo introduced a new policy where local stadiums are used to host NLO matches, aiming to promote community-level football development and encourage inclusivity. This move is part of NLO’s efforts to connect with local communities and foster positive relationships with stakeholders, players and fans.
As COO, Ogunnowo emphasizes the importance of grassroots teams in football, stating that they are the heart of the sport. He believes that by supporting these teams, NLO can significantly strengthen grassroots football development and allow communities to benefit from the sport’s growth.
Ogunnowo has been praised for his commitment to integrity and transparency in football administration. He has implemented structural reforms, including stricter licensing requirements, performance audits, and compliance monitoring, to ensure clubs uphold the league’s code of conduct.
Under Ogunnowo’s leadership, NLO has prioritized youth development, focusing on coaching education and player welfare. This initiative aims to discover and nurture talent based on merit, rather than manipulation or favoritism.
The NLO has invited Local Government Areas (LGAs) and communities with standard football stadiums to host matches, promoting community engagement and development. Some of the localities hosting matches include Ileogbo in Osun State, Apele in Sagamu, Ogun State, Kazaure in Jigawa State, Numan in Adamawa State, and Kontagora in Niger State.
