SECURITY EXPERT ADVOCATES FOOTBALL AS CRIME FIGHTING TOOL

CHANNELING Nigerian youths' energy into sports and educational activities would help reduce the level of crime in the society, former FCT Commissioner of Police, Lawrence Alobi, has submitted.

Speaking during L&M Football Academy's award ceremony in Abuja to reward its players, Alobi stated that he got involved in the programmes of the soccer outfit to inculcate fair play, discipline, justice and peace in the youths and take their minds away from crime.

'Football has today become the most popular game in the world. The good thing about the game is fair play, which is meant to promote justice and justice promotes peace. So, my security outfit got involved in sponsoring the programmes of the academy because we observed that it gives opportunity to the young ones at the grassroots to develop their talents.

'Apart from discovering talents, it helps in inculcating moral values to the youths because discipline is key to human existence and football inculcates this value on the players. I am delighted because a lot of the youths involved in the academy would be diverted from getting involved in crime and other vices. When they are engaged in the capacity-building venture like football, they would contribute to national development,' the security expert said.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Academy's Brand Manager, Janet Wilba, disclosed, 'the player, who won the award, Andrew Okoh, had distinguished himself and demonstrated that he has that excellence we are looking for in the players. He excelled in moral attitude, punctuality, regularity, obedience and relationship with teammates.

'We want to contribute our own quota to the society through football education because it will improve the lives of the youths, those around them and the community in general.

'Again, we were motivated to establish the academy because we have passion for the game. I played football when I was in school in Cross River State. We came from the family of footballers. We are all passionate about football.

'Regrettably, we did not have this opportunity to display our potentialities and the dreams and destiny died with us. We don't want these young ones to pass through our nasty experience, hence our decision to establish this academy in Abuja and Calabar.'