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The Honourable Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Creativity in Benue State, Tiza Isaac Imojime Orya, has expressed immense pride and encouragement as two young football talents from the state prepare to travel to Croatia for advanced football development training.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, the commissioner described the milestone as more than just a sporting opportunity, framing it as a powerful message of hope, resilience, and possibility for Benue youths who may feel overlooked by the world. He emphasized that the journey of these young players demonstrates that true progress often begins quietly and builds through preparation, discipline, and deliberate courage rather than loud announcements.
” Their names may not be called yet, but their journey speaks loudly. They are proof that a river does not make noise before it reaches the ocean,” Orya wrote, drawing on local proverbs and imagery to inspire. He stressed that fear has been set aside through preparation, and courage has been chosen consciously, adding that when success arrives, Benue must remain the heartbeat of its sons and daughters.
The commissioner extended special appreciation to key figures who made the opportunity possible, including the Chairman of the Benue State Football Association (BSFA), Chief Barr. Ededeh, and Rt. Hon. Terhemen Ikyange for his support as an elder brother. He also saluted Akeem Latifu and Golden Talent Football Limited, crediting their work—particularly through the Tikkitaka initiative on Buruku soil—for spotting, testing, and trusting raw talent that might otherwise have been overlooked.
Orya positioned the achievement within the broader vision of the current administration under His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, whose leadership he said has restored confidence and given Benue youths both a voice and the boldness to use it. He noted that for too long, many talented youths carried their gifts like heavy, unseen firewood, weighed down by humiliation and fear, but that moment has now passed.
“This is more than football. This is a message to every Benue youth who thinks the world has forgotten them—that the same soil you stand on can launch you to the world stage,” he declared. The commissioner reaffirmed his commitment to creating pathways where talent can thrive without begging, ending humiliation, and replacing it with courage and opportunity.
The post has resonated widely among Benue indigenes online, with many viewing the development trip as a symbol of growing investment in youth empowerment and sports infrastructure in the state. As the two players embark on their international training stint in Croatia, the commissioner’s words serve as both celebration and rallying call for continued belief in local talent and the determination to turn promise into global proof.
