THE Nigeria Football Federation and Zenith International
Bank on Wednesday in Lagos held a press conference to launch the second edition
of the NFF/Zenith Bank U13/U15 Future Eagles Stars Championship.
At the event, held
inside the offices of Lagos State Football Association, Onikan were NFF 1st
Vice President/Chairman of Youth Football Committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi,
Zenith Bank’s Head of Digital Marketing, Mr. Pascal Or, Member of NFF Youth
Football Committee, Mr. Dotun Coker, NFF’s Director of Communications, Mr.
Ademola Olajire and Zenith Bank’s Head of Media, Akin Olaniyan.
Akinwunmi disclosed that calls have gone out for entries
from the States for the second edition, with 10th September set as deadline for
entries, and the zonal finals to take place 13th – 16th September. The group
stage matches/final of U13/semi finals of U15 will come up in Kano 20th -23rd
September, while the Final of the U15 will come up on a date to be agreed with
the sponsors, and will also have the Future Eagles play against a top academy
as curtain raiser.
“The NFF as an institution remains very grateful to
Zenith Bank for this partnership, which has enabled us to give fillip to our
vision of youth football development. The first edition produced players who
form our U15 National Team (Future Eagles) that recently impressed in a two
–match tour of Morocco against the Morocco U15 squad.
“For this second edition, we have planned for it to be
much bigger, and we have the support of Zenith Bank. We are committed to
sustaining the credibility and integrity of the championship through thorough
screening that will take several stages and dimensions, and we also want to
breed the next generation of Nigerian referees by using very young referees.”
Akinwunmi, also Chairman of NFF Football Committee, also
revealed that his committee will insist on coaches who have a minimum of CAF C
License to handle the teams, making case for young, agile, educated and
certificated trainers to grow the future stars. “I can assure you that this is
one project that the entire NFF Board is passionate about. It is about building
good, diligent and wonderful people who are proud to be Nigerians.”
Pascal Or expressed Zenith Bank’s excitement at being
involved in the programme: “When a good idea is thoroughly packaged, you know
from the onset that it will be successful. The NFF has done brilliantly well
with the way they handled the first edition and the plans they have unveiled
for the second championship.
“My challenge goes
to other organizations to get involved in forms of youth development
programmes. The youth is the heart and soul of every nation. Zenith Bank is
keen to continue to support and be identified with this programme.”
No comments:
Post a Comment