By Godwin Aikigbe
The Nigerian chapter of Saclepea-Mah Development Association (SAMDA) has intensified its efforts to enhance grassroots sports development across Africa by sealing a pact with Lagos State Football Association, Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, and Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria.
Tajudeen Disu, the African director of sports and chairman of the Nigeria chapter of the USA-based non-governmental organisation, shared the laudable development with globalsportsng.com on Wednesday.
The former Nigeria Defender, who is also the technical director of the Lagos State Football Association and Chairman, Players Welfare, PFAN, said SAMDA Nigeria is also working in collaboration with local government areas in Lagos State to encourage the development of sports across the board, especially football, athletics, boxing, and basketball.
He said the decision to embark on this mission was made at a recent virtual meeting with the CEO, SAMDA, Tony Kona Fele, and all country directors of the organisation, which threw up several other laudable resolutions.
He said, “I am happy to announce that SAMDA has made good on its promise to develop grassroots sports across the board and Africa by sealing a pact with the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, the Lagos State Football Association, and virtually all local government areas of Lagos State,” revealed Disu, a typical product of grassroots football who was recently in Ghana for the ground-breaking launch of SAMDA Ghana.
He continued, “We had a virtual meeting with the CEO of AMDA, Tony Kona Fele and all the country directors, where the decision to fully embark on this collaboration with the Nigerian partners was taken.
“We meticulously chose those bodies for a start due to their high-level involvements in grassroots sports over the years, and we are also looking forward to engaging more bodies in due course to realise our mission to unearth, train, and expose every talent needing a platform like ours to strive for sporting excellence.
“I am particularly delighted at this development, being a product of grassroots football and knowing the inherent benefits of this project, which I want the several talented youngsters in Nigeria to enjoy like I did in time.
“The impact of SAMDA in this regard will be total, as every sports talent will enjoy scholarship schemes at universities in the USA and Europe.”
Headquartered in North Carolina, USA, SAMDA has been in existence across the globe for over a decade, providing support for indigent people in sports, healthcare, education, and agriculture.
It recently extended its tentacles to Nigeria and several other African countries, including Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Guinea, and Liberia.