By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
The reigning Cross River State FA Champions, Hope of Glory FC was set up to curbed youth restiveness, says Apostles Joshua Umoh.
Apostle Umoh, who is a renowned evangelist in Cross River State and General Overseer of Hope of Glory International Church, told our correspondent on Wednesday that he set up the club with the intention of curbing youths’ restiveness and draw them nearer God.
He said: “Hope of Glory football club was founded by me in June 2013. The team started like a church team and later transform in to youths team.
On why the football team was formed, he said: “This is the second time the team emerged the state champion and what motivated and encourage me to form this club is that on the streets there are many youths roaming about, so I decided to bring them together and think of their future and groom them together.
“I coached them on how to play football and meet their parents and nurture their children into the society, so that they don’t become problem to the government. I brought them together, so that they can become useful to the society.
“In the last ten years now, I’m the one funding the team. I have written several letters to government and donor agencies but are yet to respond. Nobody have funded me”, he said.
He however highlighted some of the challenges facing the football club to include – inadequate logistics, poor financing, amongst others..
“The team is facing alot of challenges including the training pitch. We paid for the pitch to train our players and the bus that convey them for matches. At the moment, the players are in the camp preparing for competitions and I’m not asking the parents to give me a dime”, he said.
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