Akabo United Football Club have boosted their grassroots football development initiative with an ambitious goal of grooming and exporting young Nigerian football talent to the international stage. This was disclosed during a press briefing held on Friday at the club’s training ground, located at the Akabo Community Primary School Field in Ikeduru, Imo State.
The Co-owner and manager, Tiina Sinervo-Nicol, a Finnish sports enthusiast and charity worker said Akabo United FC is steadily building a reputation as a hub for raw football talent in Nigeria. Nicol, who holds degrees in sports management and charity studies, shared her journey from Finland to Nigeria — a path that began with an educational exchange programme and evolved into a life-changing commitment to Nigerian football.
“I came into Nigeria through a school programme from a Finnish university. Given my background in sports and charity, we started seeking teams to support at the grassroots level,” Nicol told journalists.
Now fully immersed in the local football scene, Nicol expressed her unwavering commitment to developing players who can compete on a global stage.
“These boys have potential. Come rain come sun, they train hard, and all these are being done at no cost — no one gets paid. It’s purely a passion project, and Nigeria has become my second home. I even have a house here,” she added.
