President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has urged football administrators to engage in talent hunts at the grassroots level to discover budding stars who would represent Nigeria in the future.
He assured that modalities would be put in place to make the Senate President’s U-18 Unity Cup a yearly tournament that budding talents would be discovered and nurtured to bring back the glory days of Nigerian football.
Senator Godswill Akpabio made this known as the second edition of the 10th Senate President’s U-18 Unity Cup kicks in Abuja on Sunday.Twenty one teams comprising sixteen (16) male and five (5) female teams cutting across the country are battling for honours at the maiden Senate President’s U18 Unity Cup.
Represented by the chairman, Senate Committee on Sports Development, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, Senator Akpabio described the young players as future stars who would go on to represent the country at both continental and world football competitions.
According to the Senate President, sports and football in particular cannot grow if the grassroot is neglected. He said, “With these young men showcasing their talents, this is the future of Nigeria, and there is no way you can grow sports if we don’t go to the grassroots.
“In times past the Late Keshis, the Okochas, the Kanus, the Amokachis, the Ikpebas and the Tijani Babangidas, who brought glory to Nigeria were discovered in these kinds of tournaments.
“I have seen tremendous signals from President Bola Tinubu in putting sports on the front burner, therefore sports administrators must key into this opportunity that the President has shown in the last two years.
It should not be business as usual,” he said.
Senator Akpabio commended the Grassroots Sports Federation (GRASOF) for their tireless efforts in organising the competition and described the tournament as an opportunity to develop the sports sector, so that the future for the young football talents would be brighter.
In his welcome remarks, Tourna
ent Coordinator, Hon. John Bassey Ekpenyong, expressed gratitude to Senator Akpabio for recognizing the importance of such competitions to the development of youths and the sports sector. He highlighted the benefits of ensuring a yearly competition, as it would among other things become a pedestal for teenagers to nurture their football career.
“This will ensure that future generations of Nigerian youth continue to benefit from this platform, promoting unity, sportsmanship, and national development. We believe that with your leadership, this tournament can become a flagship event for the Senate, inspiring and empowering Nigerian youth for years to come.”
In the opener game the Jaguar Football Club of Abia State beat Amahus Football Club of Yobe 1-0 as the competition continues at the Old Parade Ground, Garki, Abuja
