IMO SPORTS COMMISSION, STATE FA PARTNER ON FREE COACHING CLINIC FOR COACHES, FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATORS

_...As Amb Ogbonna Deepens Grassroots Devt Drive, Targets Improved Tech Standards_

In a significant move to strengthen grassroots football development and improve the technical capacity of sports personnel in Imo State, the Imo State Sports Commission, in partnership with the Imo State Football Association (Imo FA), is set to organise a one-day free football coaching clinic for coaches, club secretaries and football administrators across the state.

The capacity building programme, scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Imo FA Secretariat, Owerri, is one of the strategic initiatives being championed by the Chairman of the Imo State Sports Commission, Hon. Prince Sir (Amb.) Eleazar Onyewuchi Ogbonna, FINCA, as part of his administration's commitment to repositioning sports development and strengthening the grassroots football structure in the state.

The clinic also forms part of the activities lined up to commemorate the ongoing Imo YSFON Mock Champions League Tournament, which is gradually approaching its climax.

The initiative is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to update their professional knowledge, acquire contemporary coaching techniques and gain valuable insights into modern football coaching, club administration and the effective management of football academies.

Beyond theoretical engagement, the programme is expected to expose participants to practical approaches and emerging trends in football development, equipping them with the knowledge and administrative skills required to improve coaching standards, nurture young talents and build more effective football structures across Imo State.

Certificates of participation will be presented to participants at the conclusion of the exercise.

Speaking on the initiative, the Commission's Chairman, Hon. Prince Ogbonna, described the programme as part of his administration's deliberate efforts to make capacity development a central pillar of sports advancement in Imo State.

He noted that the rapid evolution of sports globally makes continuous training and professional development imperative, particularly for coaches and sports administrators who are directly responsible for identifying, nurturing and managing sporting talents.

According to him, the Commission recognises that developing sporting infrastructure and discovering talented athletes must go hand in hand with investing in the human resources responsible for transforming raw talents into accomplished athletes.

He further emphasised that the initiative is particularly timely as the state intensifies preparations towards future national sporting engagements, including the National Youth Games, where technical competence, effective administration and proper athlete development structures remain critical to success.

The partnership with the Imo State Football Association further underscores the Commission's commitment to building strategic relationships with relevant sports stakeholders and governing bodies to achieve sustainable grassroots development.

The free coaching clinic is therefore expected to provide a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, professional interaction and the strengthening of relationships among coaches, club officials and football administrators in the state.

With the growing need to align local football development with contemporary international standards, the initiative represents another practical step by the Ogbonna-led Sports Commission towards building a knowledgeable, competent and result-oriented sports workforce.

Coaches, club secretaries, academy managers and football administrators across Imo State are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to improve their professional capacity and contribute meaningfully to the continued growth of football in the state.