A former spokesman of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr Nosike Ogbuenyi, has advocated for the introduction of a brand new age grade world soccer competitors by Fédération Internationale de Football Association, (FIFA) for mature veteran gamers aged 40 years and above.
Speaking after he submitted a proposal for the brand new match to FIFA via the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, Ogbuenyi mentioned the introduction of FIFA Over-40 World Cup “will make the football loving world to continue to watch the best of all times on the field of play for a longer period.”
Speaking on the heels of the retirement on 6 October of considered one of soccer’s biggest of all occasions, Lionel Messi of Argentina, the two-time Special Assistant on Media to the FCT Minister mentioned: “Here in Nigeria, we’ve seen our most proficient and better of all occasions retire and develop into much less seen publicly.
“We, the football fans find it difficult to keep track of our legends and stars like Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amunike, Obafemi Martins, Vincent Enyeama and John Obi Mikel”.
Beyond Nigeria, the previous picture maker of the FCT Administration mentioned there are a number of soccer gamers under 65 that followers would really like to proceed to watch in motion at the same time as they age.
He gave examples of such gifted gamers as Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Gabriel Batistuta, Michael Owen, David Beckham, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, Xavi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Oliver Kahn, Miroslav Klose, Manuel Neuer, Lothar Matthaus , Ronaldinho Gaucho, Ronaldo de Lima, Roberto Carlos, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Zinedine Zidane, Thiery Henry and Keisuke Honda.
Ogbuenyi who advised that solely gamers between the ages of 40 and 65 ought to take part within the proposed match listed a few of its benefits to embrace promotion of health, serving to to preserve ex-football stars in highlight after senior soccer, provision of supply of earnings for the mature gamers and serving as medium to inspire and information the youthful footballers.
Other deserves embrace serving to to preserve the older stars nearer to their nations and thereby persevering with to contribute their quota to the event of the generations subsequent and the soccer sport typically, offering professionals with hope of what to transit to after retiring from the extra rigorous and intensive youth and senior soccer profession and enabling followers to preserve following their soccer idols for longer intervals.
He additionally mentioned the introduction of the Over-40 World Cup would discourage age dishonest in youth and senior soccer classes as many gamers will begin wanting ahead to reaching age 40 to allow them qualify to signify their nations within the mature vetera Over-40 class.
Regarding guidelines to information the match, Ogbuenyi advised that no footballer ought to signify his nation within the veterans Over-40 class with out first retiring from senior worldwide soccer.
He additional advised that solely gamers who had represented their nations at senior degree may be eligible to take part within the veterans class.
On monetary viability, he mentioned the match is anticipated to be worthwhile for FIFA in view of the truth that it’s going to entice the crème de la crème (one of the best ever) of the sport including that TV rights sale and firm partnerships will increase funding.
With regard to timing of his proposal, Ogbuenyi said as follows: “I’ve discovered this era of the retirement of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi the extra auspicious time to submit this proposal.
As the enduring Argentine footballer bowed out after 21-year outdated worldwide soccer profession on Tuesday 6 October 2026, I stored questioning how the soccer world would appear like if FIFA creates a brand new match that may give alternative for talismanic gamers similar to Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo and others to proceed to exhibit their abilities on the worldwide stage.
“In fact, I first started nursing this idea when Jay Jay Okocha, Nigeria’s most adored football prodigy retired about 15 years ago. But I had to wait for this moment of Messi’s retirement to submit the proposal because of the anticipated global momentum.”
Ogbuenyi mentioned he has no private curiosity or declare submitting the proposal, stressing: “I am not making any claims for bringing up this idea and putting it across through this proposal to FIFA. I am just writing as a football fan who wants the world to be happier through more football games entertainment.”
He expressed assured that his proposal might be correctly evaluated and accredited by FIFA as an extra innovation for betterment of the sport of soccer.
Ogbuenyi who at the moment works as an Assistant Editor with Premium Times, a number one on-line newspaper in Nigeria had beforehand The Champion, The Comet, The Sun and ThisDay newspapers in Nigeria.
