Dr Ozondu Martins, chairman of the Badagry Divisional Football Association, has pledged to revive hope in underprivileged youths by leveraging the power of football. He envisions using grassroots development to steer children away from crime and equip coaches, referees and club owners with vital opportunities.
“My greatest mission is to ensure that every child… who is crying due to a lack of hope, finds hope through football,” he stated, underscoring his belief in the sport’s potential to heal and uplift. He also emphasised patience and adherence to due process as key to building sustainable grassroots structures.
Beyond the pitch, Dr Martins is focused on capacity-building ensuring local coaches, referees and club owners benefit from targeted programmes. He highlighted that staying informed about best practices is essential to sustain long-term impact in grassroots football development.
Editorial
We feel encouraged by Dr Martins’s bold vision. Grassroots football can be a transformative force—one that extends beyond sport, touching lives and communities. His call to give hope through football speaks to the heart of what the game can achieve.
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We recognise the wisdom in his emphasis on patience and process. True change doesn’t come overnight—it requires commitment, structured planning, and consistent nurture. By focusing on coaches, referees and administrators, he’s building an ecosystem, not just a team.
We also appreciate his holistic outlook. Football is not just about goals; it’s about values—discipline, teamwork, opportunity. Engaging children in underserved areas offers more than sport: it offers purpose, direction, and a sense of belonging.
Our belief is unwavering: when leaders like Dr Martins champion grassroots with clarity and vigour, youth are equipped not just to play, but to thrive. And in that, football becomes more than a game it becomes a movement.
Did You Know?
- Lagos State leads Nigeria in grassroots football, with over 400 clubs and mini‑league structures supporting youth engagement.
- The Higher Institution Football League (HiFL) has created a pathway from colleges to professional clubs, fostering talent like Odu Robert to move abroad.
- Coach Odey notes that nations thriving in sports invest early in grassroots Nigeria lags behind without sustained focus at the youth level .
- The NFF’s FIFA Talent Development Scheme aims to standardise academy quality by 2027, including technical training and school‑based scouting.
- Former player Victor Ikpeba recently urged stakeholders in Ondo State to support community tournaments, asserting that grassroots growth needn’t rely solely on government funding.
