A former spokesman for the Federal Capital Territory Management (FCTA), Nosike Ogbuenyi, has requested the Fédération Internationale de Soccer Affiliation (FIFA) to introduce an Over-40 International Cup in order that retired global footballers can stay showcasing their abilities.
Mr Ogbuenyi stated he submitted an offer to FIFA in the course of the Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF) secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.
He stated the contest, proposed for avid gamers elderly 40 to 65, would give enthusiasts extra alternatives to look at a few of soccer’s maximum celebrated avid gamers lengthy once they retire from standard skilled soccer.
“The creation of the FIFA Over-40 International Cup will permit the football-loving global to proceed to look at the most efficient of all occasions at the box of play for an extended duration,” he stated.
Mr Ogbuenyi, who served two times as particular assistant on media to the FCT minister, stated the proposal was once impressed partially by means of the retirement of one of the vital recreation’s largest names and the trouble enthusiasts face in maintaining with former stars after their taking part in careers.
“Right here in Nigeria, we’ve got noticed our maximum gifted and perfect of all occasions retire and change into much less visual publicly. We, the soccer enthusiasts, to find it tough to stay monitor of our legends and stars like Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amunike, Obafemi Martins, Vincent Enyeama and John Obi Mikel,” he stated.
Past Nigeria, he indexed a number of former and present avid gamers whom he believes enthusiasts wish to see go back to the pitch in a veterans’ pageant. They come with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria, Gabriel Batistuta, Michael Owen, David Beckham, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, Xavi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo de Lima, Roberto Carlos, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry.
Others on his checklist come with Oliver Kahn, Miroslav Klose, Manuel Neuer, Lothar Matthäus and Keisuke Honda.
Proposed laws, advantages
Mr Ogbuenyi stated the proposed match may just advertise health amongst former avid gamers, supply an extra source of revenue supply, and stay them within the public eye after retirement.
He additionally argued it would assist former internationals keep attached to their international locations and give a contribution to growing more youthful avid gamers and the broader recreation.
In step with him, the contest would give skilled footballers a clearer pathway after leaving the bodily difficult atmosphere of adlescent and senior soccer, whilst permitting supporters to practice their idols for longer.
He additional advised that the match may just discourage age dishonest in adolescence and senior soccer classes by means of giving avid gamers every other age-based pageant to aspire to.
On eligibility, Mr Ogbuenyi proposed that avid gamers be between 40 and 65 years previous and feature represented their international locations on the senior global stage. He additionally stated avid gamers will have to retire from senior global soccer prior to representing their international locations within the veterans’ pageant.
He argued the match might be commercially viable for FIFA, mentioning attainable earnings from tv rights and company partnerships, given the possibility of bringing in combination one of the vital recreation’s maximum recognisable names.
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Why now?
Mr Ogbuenyi stated Messi’s retirement, the Argentine ahead and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, created a possibility to attract consideration to his proposal.
“I’ve discovered this era of the retirement of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, essentially the most auspicious time to post this proposal. As the long-lasting Argentine footballer bowed out after a 21-year global football profession on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, I saved questioning what the soccer global would seem like if FIFA created a brand new match that may permit talismanic avid gamers comparable to Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo and others to proceed to showcase their abilities at the international level.
“If truth be told, I first began nursing this concept when Jay Jay Okocha, Nigeria’s maximum adored soccer prodigy, retired about 15 years in the past. However I needed to stay up for this second of Messi’s retirement to post the proposal on account of the expected international momentum.”
He stated he had no non-public hobby within the proposal and was once motivated by means of his pastime for the sport.
“I’m really not making any claims for mentioning this concept and striking it throughout via this proposal to FIFA. I’m simply writing as a soccer fan who needs the sector to be happier via extra soccer video games leisure.”
Mr Ogbuenyi expressed self belief that FIFA would review and approve the proposal, which he believes may just be offering otherwise to have a good time former avid gamers and advertise the sport.
He these days works as an assistant editor at PREMIUM TIMES. He has up to now labored with Day by day Champion, The Comet, The Solar, and ThisDay newspapers.
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