Date: 2010-12-20

The Kwara Football Academy (KFA) established by the administration of Dr Bukola Saraki some few years ago is beginning to yield fruits, just as the academy recently signed one of its players, Ahmed AbdulTaofeeq to commence professional football in Eastern Europe next season. 
 
The player, who has been signed to play professional soccer in Latvire, Eastern Europe hails from Kogi State. 
 
Unveiling the lucky player in his office at the Government House, Ilorin, Governor Saraki who congratulated the management for achieving the feat, charged the player to be a good ambassador of the academy in his professional calling. 
 
He described the first signing as a great achievement on the part of the academy and enjoined its management to make the institution a reference point in Nigeria. 
 
The governor disclosed that it was the focus of his administration that the academy would turn out future stars who would be ambassadors not only for Kwara but Nigeria in football. 
 
The signing of Abdultaofeeq he said was just one example of many youths around that the future was very bright for our great country. 
 
Dr Saraki also challenged management of the academy to ensure that products of the institution dominated both Nigerian and foreign premier leagues so that KFA would be the hub of football in Nigeria. 
 
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Dr Amuda Kannike who presented the player to Governor Saraki, expressed delight that his efforts at developing professional football envisioned by creating the academy was now yielding good dividends. 
 
Dr Kannike, who disclosed that all arrangements have been concluded for AbdulTaofeez to join his European club, also hinted that close to ten other players would be travelling next season for triers in the European league. 
 
In his remarks, the Administrator of the Football Academy, Mr Kumbi Titiloye disclosed that three other players of the institution were due to be signed in Turkey while two others would be signed in February next year to play professional football in Poland.
 
While praising the governor for his support to the academy, Titiloye assured that the academy would continue to strive towards the realization of the lofty aims for which the academy was established.
 
 
Mas’ud Adebimpe
Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor
20/12/2010