Major football stakeholders, under the aegis of the South-South NLO League Owners Forum has paid a courtesy call on Hon. Utuekong Nse Udofot Essien, an elected member representing the zone on the Board of the Nigeria Football Federation. 

Hon. Essien, who got elected on the 30th September, 2022 in the elective congress  in Benin City, Edo State, was the NFF leader of delegation, when Rivers United Fc thrashed Al Nasr Benghazi Fc of Libya 5-0 yesterday in the first leg of the CAF Confederation match in Port Harcourt. 

After the games, Hon. Essien played host to the football stakeholders at De Edge Hotel, where issues of football development at the grassroots were discussed.

According to the South-South NLO League Owners Forum, "it has become imperative for us to present a document, which serves as a roadmap and a-four year plan of action, to one of our representatives on the NFF Board"

Speaking on behalf of the Forum, Mr Eugene Eremionkhale posited that such visits will afford an opportunity for mutual exchange of ideas and information that are germane to football development. He revealed that a similar visit will also be paid to Aisha Falode, the other elected representative on the NFF Board, in the coming days, describing her as another round peg in a round hole.

The Forum congratulated the Ibrahim Gusau-led Board for the impressive run of the National U-17 girls at the just-concluded outing in India.

Responding, Hon. Essien thanked members of the Forum for the visit, assuring that the newly elected NFF Executive Committee, peopled by technocrats and those familiar with the terrain, is committed to the development of the game in all the nooks and crannies of the country.

A document, articulating a plan of action and a roadmap was presented to Hon. Essien by Mr Eugene Eremionkhale, proprietor of Sunsel Fc on behalf of the Forum