Over 17 years now, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in partnership with the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), has been the sponsors of the All Nigeria Secondary School Football Competition tagged ‘NNPC/Shell Cup’.
This year’s edition of the competition has come and gone, but the memories linger as players and officials return back to their respective places after the epoch-making national final held at the main bowl of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
However, one thing is clear: the sponsors and the organisers are determined to ensure that the players do not only participate in sports, but also take their education seriously.
Managing Director of SPDC, Osagie Okunbor, told TheNiche the success story of the competition from its inception.
Okunbor, who is also the Country Chair of Shell companies in Nigeria, said they have achieved their aims.
He said: “The NNPC/Shell Cup competition has recorded many gains. However, one success we are most proud of is the reduction in the number of boys who have abandoned their education in pursuit of a football career.
“These games and the talents we have been proud to nurture over almost two decades is proof that education and sports can indeed go hand in hand.
“Over the past 17 years, this competition has helped to discover untapped potentials, nurturing them into talented players, while keeping them in schools.
“Champions like Super Eagles star, Ejike Uzoenyi, and Under-17 World Cup winner, Akinjide Idowu, are a few examples of national and international players who emerged from the NNPC/Shell Cup.
“Combining sports with education is the main objective of the NNPC/Shell Cup. This has been achieved by the sustained efforts of SPDC, our joint venture partners, NNPC, and the Nigeria Schools Sports Federation (NSSF).”
In his speech at the final, Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, Donatus Agu-Ejidike, commended the NSSF and the consultant of the competition, Worldwide Sports Limited, for their sense of commitment to schools’ sports development.
“I also deeply commend the sponsors, NNPC/Shell, for their sense of responsibility and spirit of purposeful grassroots sports development and promotions in the country.
“Gradually, we are going back to the roots; where the true future champions and talented players could be discovered. Actually, we need more of this to gainfully engage the youths and make them more purposeful in life.
“My office will continue to partner with organisers of this kind of competition by donating more prizes and possibly scholarships in the future editions to outstanding players.
“If truly we want a virile nation where the youths will be the focus, then sports, particularly school sports, should not be relegated to the background in government and corporate policies.
“We need to encourage all forms of competitions from ward to national level, if we actually want to mould our youths who are talented and give them focus,” said he.
Meanwhile, Imo State representatives at this year’s edition, Rochas Okorocha Foundation College, Owerri, emerged the overall champions of the championship.
At a thrilling and exciting final match played at the main bowl of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, Rochas Okorocha Foundation College defeated hard-fighting Government Secondary School, Gwale, Kano State, 2-1 to win the trophy.
Earlier in the third place match, Reizheight High School, Benin, Edo State, bashed Government Secondary School, Katsina, Katsina State, 4-2 to win the bronze.
For their efforts, players from Government Secondary School, Katsina, went home with N400,000 for sports development in their school, while each of the 20 players of the team received N5,000 for emerging the best fourth team of the championship.
Reizheight High School went home with N500,000 for sports development, while each of the 20 players of the team went home with N40,000.
Government Secondary School, Gwale, for being the first runner-up received N1.4 million for sports development, while each of the 20 players of the team received N45,000 for their efforts.
The winning team, Rochas Okorocha Foundation College, received N2.5 million for sports development and a giant trophy, while each of the 20 players of the team went home with N50,000.
Chima Nwosu of Rochas Okorocha Foundation College was voted as the Best Goalkeeper of the championship, while Bashir Ahmed of Government Secondary School, Katsina, emerged as the Highest Goals Scorer with six goals.
Alhassan Yusuf of Government Secondary School, Gwale, was voted as the Best Midfielder of the championship, while Kingsley Omeri of Rochas Okorocha Foundation College was the cynosure of all eyes as he went home with two trophies as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the championship, one from the sponsors of the championship and the other from Ejidike.