Former chairman of the defunct League Management Company (LMC) Shehu Dikko has applauded the initiators of the maiden FCT Secondary School Football Tournament.
Dikko, who spoke at the school football event held at the Waldorf Knoll Academy Football pitch in Jabi, Abuja, on Saturday, urged other states of the federation to put in place such a grassroots football tournament involving young boys for the development of the game.
“Grassroots football is the way for us to go. We have to connect with our schools because the kids that play at that level whether U13, U15, U16 or whatever, the first thing is to make sure that they are of school age.
“That is the best connection and we must make sure that we include schools within that framework so that we can get success and proper records for these boys and follow up with them so that they develop and reach the level they want to reach at the the U17, U20, national teams, clubs and a couple of them.
“I think we have to encourage this kind of competition. All schools should be encouraged to organise what we have seen here today. It could be annually, quarterly or what have you and prepare these kids for the future. These are truly young players who only played for fun but showed great football artistry and display,” Dikko said.
According to the erstwhile chieftain of NFF the event will unearth a lot of future football stars.
“I have seen a lot of good players with bright futures and I have told the schools involved that they should keep eyes on them, even some of our colleagues who are involved in managing players. In the next one or two years, some of these boys will be really up there.”
At the end of hostilities, the host, Waldorf Knoll Academy, emerged as champions defeating HHH Foundation School by 2 goals to nothing during an entertaining and thrilling final.
