Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has rewarded players and coaches of the state-sponsored Real Madrid Academy with ₦50 million following their participation in an international football tour of Southampton, United Kingdom.
The governor announced the cash reward at Government House in Port Harcourt when the academy’s delegation visited him to present a trophy won during the international engagement.
The delegation included 60 students and 12 staff members who travelled to the UK for the football programme, which offered the young players valuable international exposure and an opportunity to develop their skills.
Fubara commended the academy’s management and officials for their dedication to youth development, while praising the students for their discipline and good conduct throughout the trip.
Acknowledging that the academy was established by his predecessor, the governor assured the delegation that his administration would sustain the initiative, stressing that beneficial programmes should continue regardless of the administration that introduced them.
He also pledged to address the academy’s infrastructure and funding challenges, promising to work towards providing a better environment for students to combine their academic studies with football training.
The Rivers State governor encouraged the young players to take their education seriously alongside their football ambitions, noting that although professional football offers significant financial opportunities, academic qualifications remain important for their future.
He highlighted the global football industry’s economic potential, urging the students to embrace discipline, hard work and determination as they pursue opportunities at the highest level.
According to Fubara, the purpose of the international tour was to expose the players to the realities of football beyond their immediate environment, broaden their outlook and build their confidence to compete internationally.
The governor also expressed satisfaction with reports that some academy players had attracted interest from international football teams seeking to recruit them, describing the development as an encouraging sign of the opportunities created by international exposure.
Secretary to the State Government, Dagogo Wokoma; academy principal Prudence Isaac-Harry; and tour facilitator and former Super Eagles player Ida Peterson commended the governor for sustaining government sponsorship of the academy.
They also acknowledged his support for the students’ participation in the international football programme.
