Chairman/founder of Perfect God Interest, (PGI) Football Academy, Israel Odige has stated unequivocally that owning a clubside has been one of his long -aged ambitions.
According to the Msc Information technology degree holder, he has always wanted to float a football club, which PGI’s establishment this year has made a dream come true.
The Edo state born club owner, who is based in Europe, said football has been his passion right from his early school days, but never had the opportunity to make a career of it due to his parents who will not love to hear that, which was though the case then, as the game was not as rewarding as it is today.
“I have always wanted to own a football club, begins Odige.
“This has been in my heart since I graduated in 1987 from Eghosa Grammar School Benin city, Edo state.. Speaking further, Odigie said: “as a young boy who loved playing football but was not given the opportunity by the parents due to the misconception and believe that footballers don’t take education seriously and that the profession is for drop outs, I told myself I have to do something about it.
Odige told the story of how he lost his school uniform, footwear and school bag while playing football, that he returned home without clothes, shoes and his bag containing his books. This attracted heavy beaten from his parents, he noted.
“While playing football in my primary school; my school uniform was stolen which I placed on the rock goal post and I had to go home without shirt on.
“In another occasion during my Inter class football match in the secondary school, my foot wear and school bag with all my lecture notes and text books were stolen.
“I don’t need to explain what I suffered in the hands of my parents in those two occasions, but you can guess my ordeal, he said.
“I also suffered a lot of emotional torments from these scenarios, but it made me to aspire to own a football club in the future; where those that are in love with the game can be supported.
“My desire to make it an academy is to inculcate some basic educational program into football playing as a career.
“I plan to make my students in the academy take classes in Mathematics and English Language. This in my view will stabilise them intellectually as they continue with their football playing career”, he concluded.
PGI Football Academy is fully registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and have certificate of incorporation since April, 2023.
They have purchased a camping property for the players in Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin city, Edo state.
The academy players receive weekly feeding allowance and enjoy constant electricity, good availability of water etc. There is also a mini training pitch in the compound with a good CCTV camera for their security.
They also have a medical hospital they registered with to support the academy in case of illness and they have well qualified coaching and management staff.
