Not fewer than 100 students have been registered for the maiden edition of National Secondary School Invitational Football Tournament which holds in Abuja
The tournament targeted at discovering talented footballers at the secondary schools will kick off from 21st-23rd February, 2025 at the Family Worship Center pitch,Wuye, Abuja.
Six schools and two wild cards (eight teams) in total will participate in the inaugural edition of the competition.
While all registered students are eligible for the scholarship, however, only six schools, namely; Glisten International Academy, Britarch Schools, Royal Family Academy Wuye, Faith Academy, Abuja and Lugbe Titans and International Secondary School, Owerri are eligible to win the giant trophy.
However, the two participating schools invited on wild card can’t win the trophy. The two schools selected for wild cards are; Right Value Selected and Pioneers Selected.
Speaking at the press conference on Friday, the brain behind the tournament and the CEO of Godfather Emmanuel Babayaro Foundation, the 1996 Olympics medalist, Emmanuel Babayaro stated that, “the tournament is set up as an opportunity for young talented footballers to better their lives when education is merged with their football career after being picked by the scout appointed by the USA collegiate for the scholarship.
All matches will be covered and recorded live because all players that will be selected for the scholarship will be backed up by statistics and video evidences.
He added, “Another good thing is that, there is no limit to the number of students who can benefit from it. Once any player meet up with the criteria, then, such player will be chosen and be a beneficiary.
The tournament will start from 21st to 23rd February and will hold at the Family Worship Center pitch in Wuye Abuja.
He commended the sponsor, First Generation Mortgage Bank (FGMB) for supporting the initiative. “I must commend the sponsor, First Generation Mortgage Bank (FGMB), they showed that truly, they are the bank for this and next generation. Without wasting time, they accept our proposal and immediately after meeting with them, they set the ball rolling. They’re the reason we are seated here today making the tournament a reality.
Also speaking, Mr Nelson John, the Group Head, FGMB said, “the reason we are here today is to better the future our generation and the next, because those who combine education and talent will be superstar and FGMB is the only bank for superstars. We discovered that the foundation is set up to groom young stars, so, we came in to secure the futures of superstars.”
Former Super Falcons and Super Eagles coach, James Peters who is the appointed scout for the the tournament hailed the sponsor and predicted a successful competition.
He said, “firstly, let me commend the First Generation Mortgage Bank for their confidence in investing in the program. I want assure them that it’s right step in a right direction. Football is a big business and identifying themselves with Emmanuel Babayaro Foundation and the project will yield multiple profits for FGMB. I am sure the bank will be proud of the players that will be discovered in the tournament because they will be the bedrock of Nigeria football in the future.”
The Beijing Olympics silver medalist, Femi Ajilore expressed his satisfaction and hailed the project saying that it will benefit not only the players but the country at large.
