Chairman of the steering committee for the maiden Samuel Okwaraji Secondary Schools Football Championship, Senator Osita Izunaso has affirmed that the competition aims to spot hidden talents among students across the country.
READ ALSO: Chioma Ajunwa Intensifies Awareness About Dangers Of Drug Abuse With Enlightenment Seminar
Sports247 reports that Izunaso disclosed that the competition, which is also known as Memoir Cup, will be staged under the official tag of FirstBank/Samuel Okwaraji Foundation (SOF) National Secondary Schools Football Championship.
While disclosing that action has already commenced in several states across the country, Izunaso enthused that the memorial image and corporate branding on the competition will make the inaugural matches highly exiting and intense.
Izunaso added that Samuel Okwaraji Foundation was established to preserve memory of the star, who died while playing for Nigeria during a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Angola on August 12, 1989, at Lagos National Stadium, Surulere.
He further said, “The foundation is committed to discovering young football talents in secondary schools across the country through structured competitions. The initiative will contribute to the development of grassroots football in Nigeria.
“We commend FirstBank for partnering with the foundation to ensure the successful organisation of the competition across the federation. We also hope the competition will become an annual event on Nigeria’s football calendar.”
Sports247 gathered further that competition, which is being organised in collaboration with Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), will take place in three stages.
The first stage, currently underway, involves championships across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from which winners will advance to the zonal playoffs, then to the national finals that will produce winners of the overall title.
