Students Bag Scholarship, National Team Invitation As Maiden Secondary School Tourney Ends In Abuja

Students Bag Scholarship, National Team Invitation As Maiden Secondary School Tourney Ends In Abuja

By Niyi Busari

Students from the Britarch Academy Lugbe and Faith Academy, Kubwa Abuja got scholarship and national team invitation as maiden Secondary School Invitational football tournament ended on Sunday in Abuja, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

In the final, played at the Family Worship Center pitch Wuye, Abuja, Faith Academy Kubwa defeated Britarch Academy 2-1 to emerge champions. Following their impressive performance, two players from Faith Academy have been invited to the Future Eagles team.

The tournament orgainsed by Godfather Emmanuel Babayaro Foundation saw former Super Eagles Coach and captain, Austin Eguavoen, another former Super Eagles Coach, James Peters, CEO, Nigeria National League, Emmanuel Attah and former Eagles' phycologist, Robinson Okosun present as Special Guests in the final match.  

Speaking after the match, the Director, Technical Department of NFF, Austin Eguavoen lauded the organiser and sponsor for providing the platform where he spotted two players who will be part of the National U15 team.

"This is a good football program. Giving young children willing to showcase their skills the platform to do so is the best ex-International like Emmanuel Babayaro can do for the next generation. It was an interesting and exciting final because I am able to pick two players who will be invited to the U15 national team."

 Also speaking, Patrick Nlekwa, Cooperate Communication Officer who represented the MD/CEO, Dr. Young Toby Ekechi said the First Generation Mortgage Bank (FGMB) was satisfied with the organization, coordination of the tournament as well as quality of players discovered. He assured the convener, Emmanuel Babayaro of more support in the subsequent edition. "We are thrilled to have associated with the grassroots football competition which ended today. FGMB is the bank for the next generation, reason we keyed into this type of program aimed at shaping the future of young talented footballers."

Speaking on the gains of the first edition, 1996 Olympic gold medalist, elated Emmanuel Babayaro said, "we got more than the set target, the target at the beginning is to identify students who have got the talents to attract scholarship in the USA but aside that, two players have been invited to the national team because Godfather Emmanuel Babayaro Foundation gave them the platform. With this, I believe, the next edition will be bigger and might involve almost all schools in Abuja.

He however lauded the sponsor, FGMB for their unquantified financial support for the success of the tournament.

Chief scout of the tournament, former Super Eagles Coach,James Peters revealed that name of students who will benefit from the scholarship in the USA will be revealed after scrutiny.

 Godwin Agbo, a student of GSS Gwarimpa won.the Most Valuable Player award.