With Nigeria’s next generation of football stars emerging from secondary school competitions, the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) has called for stronger corporate investment in grassroots sports, urging the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to scout young talents.
The appeal came during the South-South zonal elimination of the FirstBank/Sam Okwaraji Nigeria Secondary School Football Championship at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, where Delta and Rivers States secured qualification for the national finals in Lagos.
Austin Joe, NSSF Zonal Monitor commended FirstBank for sponsoring school football and urged more companies to support grassroots competitions, improve school sporting facilities and provide opportunities for young athletes.
He also called for MTN’s return to school sports sponsorship.
The NSSF Vice-President, Emmanuel Ebong, said the federation depended on corporate partnerships rather than government budgetary allocations to sustain its activities.
He cited Nestlé Milo’s support for basketball, NAFDAC’s involvement in flag football, MTN’s backing of athletics and FirstBank’s sponsorship of football, appealing to more organisations and philanthropists to invest in school sports.
Ebong also urged the NFF to scout school competitions for promising players capable of progressing into national youth teams, including the Golden Eaglets.
On his part, Talabi Oke, Secretary of the Cross River State Football Association, in an interview with sports journalists, described the Under-16 championship as an opportunity to discover and nurture young football talents,
He commended Cross River State for hosting the competition.
Meanwhile, Coach Adamu Ali of Urhobo College, Delta State, attributed his team’s success to early preparation, unity and the school’s commitment to football development.
He said the team was determined to represent Delta and the South-South zone successfully at the national finals.
The championship, sponsored by FirstBank in conjunction with the Sam Okwaraji Foundation, promotes patriotism, education and sports development.
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