NOT FORGOTTEN! SKFVTC BOT LAUNCHES FUND RAISING, AS STEPHEN KESHI FOOTBALL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER KICKS OFF IN OBAZUWA, BENIN CITY
Following the commencement of the physical development of the Stephen Keshi Football and Vocational Training Center (SKFVTC) located at Obazuwa, behind Ekenwan Military Barrack, in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria, by the Board of Trustees of the Training Center, (BOT) the Board has instituted an Appeal Fund, tagged “SKFVTC DEVELOPMENT APPEAL FUND,” to solicit for funds from individuals and corporate organisations, to accelerate the development of the SKFVTC which has already started.
AFCON 2013 winning coach, late Stephen Keshi on elevation. Cr. Google
In a related development, the Board has equally kick-start plans to organise a Fund Raising Football Match through the Office of the Hon Minister of Youth and Sports to be supported by the Nigeria Football Federation and the League Management Company (LMC) to facilitate the patronage of government and highly placed sports loving Nigerians and organisations to support the SKFVTC Development Appeal Fund.
The game, which is expected to feature current and former players of the senior national team who have passed through the tutelage of Stephen Keshi will be playing against other selected current players from the Nigeria Professional Football League to be hosted by one of the sports-loving Governors in Nigeria, in the month of June 2021.
Clearing ongoing at the site
According to the chairman Board of Trustees, Comrade (Dr) Brown Ogbiefun, “the Stephen Keshi Football and Vocational Training Center (SKFVTC), Obazuwa, was established as a Sports and Vocational Training Center. It was conceived as a public-private partnership project aimed at immortalizing and to preserve the legacies and contributions of the late Football legend, former Super Eagles Captain, and Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, A.K.A. “The Big Boss,” who passed on to greater glory on 7th of June 2016 in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Secondly, the SKFTVC is expected to be a veritable platform for identifying and developing talented football youths from across Nigeria and Africa. Thirdly the Football and Vocational Training Center, the first of its kind in Africa is expected to create alternative career paths for our teeming sports-loving youths, who, though are passionate and love the game of football, are unable to make it to the professional ranks.”
Comrade Austin Popo (R) & former ICC & Bendel Insurance golkeeper, David Aigbovo, member of the BOT SKFVTC
It will be recalled that sometime in 2016, immediately after the death of Stephen Keshi, His Royal Highness, Prince Edun Akenzua, the Enogie of Obazuwa, in Ovia North East Local Government of Edo State, himself, a former Footballer, graciously donated a mass land measuring 1,000 FT by 1000 FT. for the establishment of the SKFVTC
Work in progress
The proposed facilities within the SKFVTC has been divided into six zones namely
ZONE 1 (ANCILLARY FACILITIES)
Parking lots, GateHouses, Generator House
ZONE 2 (PUBLIC FACILITIES)
Clinic/Pharmacy, BUSINESS ZONE (Bakery, Water Processing Factory, Shopping Mall, Restaurant/Eatery, 50 Rooms Guest House/Swimming Pool
Architectural plan of the Centre
ZONE 3 ( TRAINING CENTRE)
CLASSROOMS (Secondary and Primary)
WORKSHOP 1 ( Automobile, Furniture, Electrical, etc)
WORKSHOP 2 ( Fashion Design, Cobbling etc)
VOCATIONAL CENTER ( Physiotherapy, Football, Journalism, etc)
ZONE 4 (SPORTING/RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES) –
( Main Pitch with Running Tracks and Covered Stand, 2 Practicing Pitches, Volleyball, Tennis & Basketball Courts)
ZONE 5 (HOUSING FACILITIES)
2 NOS HOSTEL (Dormitory and Separate Room’s)
STAFF QUARTERS
TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT BLOCKS FOR SALE TO FOOTBALLERS
ZONE 6 ( AGRICULTURAL SECTION)
AGRICULTURAL AREA (Poultry, Food Crops, etc)
In his word, Secretary of the BOT (SKFVTC), Comrade Austin Popo, “We are calling on individuals to be a part of this unique opportunity orchestrated to immortalise a legend of all time who made tremendous impact on the development and promotion of our football, by donating generously to the SKFVTC DEVELOPMENT APPEAL FUND.
