Sports

Tpack FC Nurtures Ughelli South Youths for Professional Football

Published

1 day ago

September 30, 2026

Cyril Ogar

For many young footballers in Nigeria, the journey from playing football in their communities to securing a place in organised professional football can be difficult. In Ughelli South, Delta State, a new grassroots project is seeking to create a more structured route for young players to develop their talent, remain connected to education and ultimately pursue professional football.

Tpack Football Club (Tpack FC), founded in 2025 by ThankGod Ochuko, began as a grassroots football project based at Otokuto Secondary School before developing into a more structured youth football programme.

The project is built around the idea that football development should go beyond simply assembling talented young players. Its stated objective is to create an environment where players can receive regular football training, education, discipline and exposure while working towards progression into competitive football.

Speaking about the project, Ochuko, who serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tpack FC, said the club was established to provide young footballers in Ughelli South with an organised pathway.

“Our vision is to give young footballers in Ughelli South an organised pathway where they can develop their talent, receive proper education and discipline, and have the opportunity to progress into professional football. We want Tpack FC to become a platform where young people can turn their dreams into reality.”

Tpack FC currently operates from the football facility at Otokuto Secondary School, which remains the base for its grassroots development activities.

The club’s development structure is designed around different age categories, with plans to maintain teams at U15, U17 and U20/Senior levels. The proposed playing structure is expected to accommodate between 35 and 50 players, allowing the club to develop players progressively through the different stages of its programme.

At the centre of the project is the club’s stated mission to discover, train, educate and promote young footballers from Ughelli South.

Rather than treating grassroots football as an end in itself, Tpack FC is seeking to establish a pathway into organised competition. The club has already participated in local football activities, with its profile recording fixtures including a meeting with FC Tellectual.

Its medium-term plans include participation in competitions under the Delta State Football Association and the Nationwide League One (NLO) structure.

The longer-term ambition is to progress through Nigeria’s football pyramid, with the club identifying the Nigeria National League (NNL) and ultimately the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) as targets.

For Tpack FC, however, competitive progression is only one part of the development model.

The club has outlined plans for an academy complex that would include player accommodation and classroom facilities. The proposed model is intended to combine football development with education, providing young players with an environment where their sporting and academic development can take place alongside each other.

Another component of the club’s plans is a player-production programme targeting between three and five professional players annually. Tpack FC also intends to organise a biannual scouting showcase, creating additional opportunities for its players to attract the attention of scouts, clubs and other football stakeholders.

The ambition reflects a growing emphasis within grassroots football on creating clearer pathways between youth development and the professional game.

For a community such as Ughelli South, the model could also provide a local platform for young players who might otherwise have to travel outside the area in search of structured football opportunities.

Ochuko is supported in the club’s management structure by Sporting Director/Secretary Osia Felix, while Kingsley Akpososo serves as head coach.

The club has adopted “Making Dreams Reality” as its motto, with talent, passion, action and commitment identified as some of its core values.

Tpack FC’s immediate task is to translate its development plans into a sustainable football structure, competitive participation and measurable player progression. Its longer-term objective is to establish a system in which talented players from Ughelli South can progress from grassroots football through organised youth competition and, ultimately, towards the professional game.

If that pathway is successfully developed, Tpack FC could become more than a local youth football project; it could provide a structured football-development platform connecting young talent in Ughelli South with opportunities beyond the community.

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Sports

NSC DG, Olopade Celebrates Nigeria at 66, Assures of More Progressive Sports Development Under President Tinubu

Published

7 hours ago

October 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has congratulated Nigerians as the nation celebrates its 66th Independence Anniversary, describing the milestone as a reflection of Nigeria’s resilience, unity and remarkable capacity to excel on the global stage, particularly through sports.

Hon. Olopade said Nigeria at 66 is an occasion every Nigerian should be proud of, noting that despite the challenges encountered over the years, the country has continued to make significant progress and produce achievements capable of inspiring generations.

The DG said the sports sector has particular reasons to celebrate, pointing to a series of performances and milestones by Nigerian athletes and teams across the global sporting landscape.

“Today, we celebrate the resilience of our people, the strength of our unity and our belief in the promise of our great country, especially through sports.

“As we raise our flag with pride, may we remain committed to building a nation where every Nigerian has the opportunity to dream, thrive and succeed.”

Hon. Olopade said the progress being witnessed in Nigerian sports aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Development (RHINSE), which he said is focused on creating a stronger and more sustainable pathway for athletes, while positioning sports as a tool for national development, youth empowerment and global recognition.

He pointed to Nigeria’s outstanding performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as one of the latest examples of the country’s sporting potential. Team Nigeria returned from Glasgow with 24 medals, comprising 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze, finishing seventh overall and as the highest-ranked African nation at the Games. The campaign also produced three world records and a number of historic milestones across para powerlifting, athletics, weightlifting, para athletics and judo.

Among the standout performances was that of Team Nigeria captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who won gold in para powerlifting and twice broke the world record during the competition, ultimately lifting 175kg. Goodness Nwachukwu also successfully defended her Commonwealth title in the women’s para discus and set a new world record, while Nigeria recorded historic Commonwealth gold medals through Samuel Ogazi in the men’s 400m, Ezekiel Nathaniel in the men’s 400m hurdles and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in the men’s shot put.

“Today, Nigeria is a global force in para-sports, and athletes such as Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Goodness Nwachukwu continue to demonstrate the extraordinary talent and determination that exist within our country,” Hon. Olopade said.

He also celebrated the continued dominance of D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, which in 2025 became the first nation to win five consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles after defeating Mali 78-64 in the final in Abidjan in the last edition. The achievement extended Nigeria’s unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games and secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup pathway.

On the global athletics scene, Hon. Olopade highlighted the continued excellence of Tobi Amusan and the emergence of a new generation of Nigerian sprinters. Amusan won silver in the women’s 100m hurdles at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest in September 2026, clocking 12.34 seconds in the final, while Kayinsola Ajayi added another significant milestone by winning Commonwealth bronze in the men’s 100m and helping Nigeria to bronze in the men’s 4x100m relay in Glasgow.

Nigeria’s football heritage, Hon. Olopade noted, remains another major source of national pride. The country holds the record for the most FIFA U-17 World Cup titles, with five championships won by the Golden Eaglets in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.

He also pointed to the country’s growing influence in emerging sports, including flag football. Nigeria made history by winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Football Championship in Cairo in 2025, earning qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.

“These achievements across athletics, para-sports, basketball, football, weightlifting, flag football and other sports remind us that Nigeria possesses immense sporting talent,” the DG said.

“From our champions who continue to break world records to our young athletes who are announcing themselves on the international stage, the Nigerian flag continues to fly with pride around the world. This is why the development of sports must remain a national priority. Our responsibility is not only to celebrate champions after they emerge, but to build the systems, facilities, competitions and opportunities that allow more young Nigerians to become champions.”

“As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we celebrate Nigeria’s past, but we must also look confidently toward the future. Our athletes have shown us what is possible when talent meets opportunity, preparation and support. The task before us is to ensure that more Nigerians have that opportunity,” the DG added.

“On behalf of the National Sports Commission, I wish all Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Anniversary. May our great nation continue to grow in strength, unity, prosperity and sporting excellence,” Hon. Olopade concluded.

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