Rivers Sports Commissioner, Boma Iyaye said the State-owned Real Madrid Football Academy in Port Harcourt will produce a future generation of football superstars comparable to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Iyaye, in the company of his Permanent Secretary Sir Honour Sirawoo and members of SWAN in Rivers State, stated this when he visited the Academy ahead of its official resumption.
According to the Commissioner, the academy is comparable to any in the world in terms of facilities, content, curriculum and product, adding that he was short of words to thank Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike for such initiative and commitment to deliver a world-class facility for future generation.
“I never thought it would be this huge when we started this project. I am really short of words to thank the governor, he has made sure that funds are provided for this iconic project and I am sure that our indigenes would be proud of this Football Academy.
“You have seen the hostels, the classrooms and all other facilities being put in place, this is a great legacy and we thank the Governor for what he has done. If some of us had this opportunity, perhaps we would have done great in football,” he stated.
Iyaye revealed that the academy is hundred percent owned by the Rivers State Government and is the first Real Madrid Football Academy franchise in Africa with a focus on academics and football development.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on the Real Madrid Football Academy, Barr Chris Green had taken the Commissioner, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Sir Honour Sirawoo, and sports journalists around the facility.
