After PUNCH report, ex-U17 striker with knee injury starts football training centre

The beginning of Mbetobong Ibanga’s football career seemed promising until he faced a knee injury, which led him to move back to his hometown of Calabar, Cross River State, where he took up work as a butcher. However, after the publication of a story by NewsNow about his situation, the state government and various individuals came together to offer him a fresh start.

Although Mbetobong Ibanga’s aspirations of becoming a professional footballer have dimmed due to his age and injury, he has expressed optimism about no longer having to work as a butcher in Calabar. When a NewsNow reporter first met him in a Calabar market seven months ago, he appeared despondent and helpless. However, his circumstances have now taken a positive turn.

Following the publication of the story titled ‘From U-17 striker to butcher: How NFF paid player $100 after a life-changing injury,’ Ibanga’s former football colleagues reached out to offer financial support to him and his ailing mother. His journey from playing for the national team to working as a butcher reflects the resilience and determination he has displayed despite the challenges he has faced.

Now, with the support of the Cross River State Government and other politicians who read his story in NewsNow, Ibanga has transitioned from being a butcher to becoming a football coach. He has founded the Hope Regeneration Outreach, a secondary school football training center aimed at “Impacting lives through sports.” Expressing gratitude for the turnaround in his life, Ibanga emphasized the positive impact football has had on him and his eagerness to impart valuable lessons to children, teens, and youths through the sport.

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Furthermore, Ibanga expressed his appreciation for the support he received from various individuals, including the Vice-Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof Florence Obi, and the Head of the Department of History, who extended both financial and moral assistance to ensure he completed his education without facing financial barriers. He also credited the intervention of PUNCH, expressing that it had opened doors for him to connect with influential figures who have contributed to his progress.

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