The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Zenith International Bank have launched the second edition of the NFF/Zenith Bank U13/U15 Future Eagles Stars Championship.
The launch was held at the Lagos State Football Association, Onikan, Lagos.
Attendees included NFF 1st Vice President/Chairman of Youth Football Committee, Seyi Akinwunmi; Zenith Bank’s Head of Digital Marketing, Pascal Or; a member of NFF Youth Football Committee, Dotun Coker; NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; and Zenith Bank Head of Media, Akin Olaniyan.
Akinwunmi disclosed that calls have gone out for entries from the states with September 10 as deadline for entries, and zonal finals will hold between September 13 and 16.
Group stage matches will be held in Kano from September 20 to 23. The final will come up at a date to be agreed with the sponsors.
Akinwunmi said: “The NFF as an institution remains very grateful to Zenith Bank for this partnership, which has enabled us to give fillip to our vision of youth football development.
“The first edition produced players who form our U15 National Team (Future Eagles) that recently impressed in a two-match tour of Morocco against the Morocco U15 squad.
“For this second edition, we have planned for it to be much bigger, and we have the support of Zenith Bank.
“We are committed to sustaining the credibility and integrity of the championship through screening that will take several stages and dimensions, and we also want to breed the next generation of Nigerian referees by using very young referees.”
Akinwunmi, also chairman of NFF football committee, said his committee will insist on coaches who have a minimum of CAF C Licence to handle the teams, making case for young, agile, educated and certificated trainers to grow the future stars.
“I can assure you that this is one project the entire NFF board is passionate about. It is about building good, diligent and wonderful people who are proud to be Nigerians.”
Or expressed Zenith Bank’s excitement at being involved in the programme, saying: “When a good idea is thoroughly packaged, you know from the outset that it will be successful.
“The NFF has done brilliantly well with the way they handled the first edition and the plans they have unveiled for the second championship.
“My challenge goes to other organisations to get involved in forms of youth development programmes. The youth are the heart and soul of every nation. Zenith Bank is keen to continue to support and be identified with this programme.”
