Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has rewarded players and coaches of the Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt, with N50m for their performance during a recent football tour of the United Kingdom.
Fubara announced the reward on Friday while receiving the academyβs management and students at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
According to a statement by his media aide, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor commended the team for their discipline and exemplary conduct throughout the tour.
He expressed delight that despite the challenges encountered during the trip, the team returned victorious without any incident of misconduct or behaviour that could embarrass the state.
Fubara said the academy, established by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, was designed to nurture young talents who could build lucrative careers in football, noting that the football economy was bigger than many conventional corporate organisations.
He said the purpose of sponsoring the UK tour was to expose the students to international football and expressed delight that some of them had reportedly attracted the attention of foreign clubs seeking to offer them greater opportunities abroad.
