By Uzor Odigbo
No fewer than 16 orphans, Eight boys and Eight girls talents were identified at the 6th Coach Felix Academic and Sports Foundation (CFASF) Annual Stakeholders Congress at Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
In this year’s event, organisers decided to incorporate some talented boys and girls from the orphanages, with financial support from former AthIetes Princess Mabel Madojiemu, Coach Kayode Yahaya, AFN Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, NVBF President, Engr. Musa Nimrod, Mr. Musa Audu, Micromanna Ltd and Mohammad Aliyu.
Twelve orphanage homes contributed 116 orphans, who participated in 100m, 150m races.
According to Osiebe, after giving the orphans opportunity to express themselves and show their potentials, eight boys and eight girls with potential all below Under 16 will all be taken through training and development programmes next season.
“We are going to partner with the orphanage homes to create training programme for them and promote them to championships within their age range U-16 and U-13,” he said.
The annual event, which commenced in 2016 by Founder, Coach Felix Osiebe to discover new track and field talents from the nook and crannies across the the federation especially in schools, youth clubs, streets and villages, usually involves seminars, athletics competitions and talent hunt, but the organisers took it much higher in 2023, when they decided to bring in 116 orphans from 12 orphanages across Kaduna state for participation.
The founder, Coach Felix Osiebe disclosed, “Our foundation started in 2016 with the aim of discovering, developing and delivering potential athletes.
We have been presenting athletes to represent Kaduna state in Youth Games since 2016. We also move to the villages and communities, to scout talents especially those not in schools.
“I lost my childhood and that is why I want to fill the gap and allow the youth to enjoy the best of their childhood and realise their potentials. Kaduna state government has awaken to athletics and it is events like this help to awoke their interest in athletics. People should support the programme financially and morally.”
The programme has produced some athletes who are internationals at both junior and senior categories.
