Owerri, Nigeria—Each weekend, Obizi—a bustling suburb of Owerri in eastern Nigeria—comes alive with the electrifying buzz of young footballers weaving through the dusty streets. Clad in mismatched jerseys, they pass, dribble, and shoot as cheering spectators line the makeshift pitch. The scene is one of unity, hope, and boundless possibility—all driven by a grassroots initiative known as Obizi Street Soccer.
What started as a casual neighbourhood game has evolved into a transformative movement, propelling young talents into state and national football teams.
“Soccer is the language of hope,” says Chidi Okeke, the initiative’s head organiser, also known as Coach Chizzy. “When we began in 2015, we weren’t about producing champions. We are about saving lives.”
A former professional footballer, Coach Chizzy returned to Obizi after a brief stint in Lagos, shocked at the state of things in his community. “Kids were dropping out of school, getting into trouble and some were even joining gangs,” he recalled. He thought soccer might be a remedy.
Together with two others interested in youth development, Coach Chizzy founded Obizi Street Soccer. Their mission was simple yet profound: to create a safe space for young people while subtly introducing mentorship, education, and life skills
Obizi streets spring to life on the weekend. Organisers made goal posts from bamboo plants, sectioned off the pitch with chalk and assembled kids from the neighborhood. Boys and girls of all ages compete with hand-me-down cleats and glowing determination.
“The first time we set up, it was just about 15, but now we are at over 200 participants a month,” Nkechi, one of the founders of the initiative, noted of the transformation.
Beyond football, the initiative also helped to boost the kids’ confidence through discussions about aspirations and determination. “We always tell them, ‘You are more than what society says you can be,'” said Nkechi.
Such was the case for Amaka Ozoemena, 14, who wasn’t enthusiastic about joining the program at first. “I didn’t think soccer was for girls,” she said, smiling at the memory. But, as she explained, Coach Nkechi wouldn’t hear that. “She told me, ‘You have every right to play as much as the boys,’” Ozoemena recalled.
Her dedication paid off during the inaugural Obizi Soccer Cup in 2022, where she scored the winning goal in the final match. “I felt like a champion on that day,” Ozoemena smiled widely at the memory.
Now, the 14-year-old dreams of playing for Nigeria’s Super Falcons, her confidence inspiring other girls in the community to follow suit.
Kelechi Emmanuel, 16, was notorious for trouble in the neighborhood. “I was always on the street, looking for fights, skipping school,” he said with a sheepish grin. He was soon forced to turn a new leaf after Coach Chizzy asked him one day what he was doing with his life. “I didn’t have an answer,” he said.
Now a star midfielder in his school’s soccer team, Kelechi credits Obizi Street Soccer for giving him a sense of purpose. “I wouldn’t know what to do without it [Obizi street soccer],” he said.
Coach Chizzy shared that there were plans to develop the weekend football programme into an academy that offered vocational training and provided scholarships to its trainees. “It’s not just about making footballers,” added Nkechi. “It’s about raising well-rounded individuals.”
Recently, the trio began applying for grants and reaching out to schools within the local community for support.
Community Participation
Amid its meagre resources, the cause has garnered ample support from the community. Parents volunteer as coaches, local businesses donate snacks and water, and neighbours rally around the cause. “It’s like the whole neighbourhood is invested in these kids’ futures,” Nkechi gushed.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the young players, exhilarated from their matches, headed home. Watching them, Coach Chizzy reflected on their journey. “This is just the beginning,” he mused. “The best is yet to come.”
Obizi Street Soccer, founded in 2015 by former professional footballer Coach Chizzy and two others in Obizi, Nigeria, aims to uplift at-risk youth through soccer. The initiative, initially a casual neighborhood game, now engages over 200 participants monthly, offering them mentorship, education, and life skills alongside soccer. The program has helped individuals like Amaka Ozoemena, a young girl inspired to pursue soccer, and Kelechi Emmanuel, a former troublemaker turned dedicated soccer team star.
The grassroots initiative's success is significantly supported by community involvement, with parents volunteering and local businesses providing resources. Plans are underway to expand into an academy with vocational training and scholarships, highlighting the program's commitment to developing well-rounded individuals, not just footballers. Coach Chizzy and the community remain optimistic about the impact and growth of Obizi Street Soccer, viewing it as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of young people in Obizi.
