Young sports analyst bags youth award in Abia

Eleven-year-old Ugwunnaya Chidozie Erondu has been decorated by the Abia State ministry of Youth and Sports Development, as a youth sports ambassador in the state. This is in recognition of his outstanding and excellent performance in sports analysis, which he has carried on since he was eight.

Born into a family of six including his parents, Erondu got interested in sports because every member of his family watches football.

“My dad, uncles, my mum, my elder bro and my sisters all love football; although my elder brother Ebuka, had more impact on me because he plays football. So, watching him play increased by love for soccer, but since I can’t really play, I find myself analysing the game,” he said.

Erondu, who is excited and grateful to God for the award, said he is now motivated to do more. He informed that what stands him out with his anaylsis is the way he sets his formation and predict games, which later comes to pass.

The young sports enthusiast noted that he would love to finish his education before focusing on sports analysis.

“I am passionate about education. I want to have a university degree and pursue a career in Aeronautic Engineering as a profession, then continue with sports analysis.”

The grade-five pupil of Living Word Academy, Umuahia, Abia State, said he inherited his outspokenness from his dad, while his calm and calculative nature is from my mum.

On his advice for other young people, Erondu urged them to follow their dreams and passion, just as he has followed his, stressing that in all they choose to do, education is very important.

“They should study hard, then at their leisure, they should engage themselves in any sporting activity, which is also good for our health and wellbeing. I see myself going higher academically and achieving my dreams in sports analysis. I see myself analysing sports on world stages and platforms, becoming a household name in sports analyses around the world,” he asserted.

Commenting on the standard of the sporting facilities in the country, Erondu said, “I would love to see a time where we have standard pitches/stadiums for football. The youth development drive should be on the rise too, not just grooming and raising footballers from younger ages, but ensuring that they are monitored till an advanced age. I also look forward to a time where footballers are well paid and taken care of.”

He continued: “There should also be constructions of new stadiums around the country, renovations of the old stadiums, replacement of facilities and equipments to modern ones, sporting activities should be added to school curriculum compulsorily in order to encourage young talents and the government should ensure that there is adequate funding for the sports sector.”