NFF/Zenith Bank Youth Tournament will showcase youth talents – Akinwumi

Seyi Akinwumi, the Chairman, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Youth Development Committee, says the NFF/Zenith Bank Youth Tournament will showcase Nigerian youths’ talents.

Akinwumi told newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos that the zonal of the 2^ndEdition of the NFF/Zenith Bank U-13/U-15 Future Super Eagles Stars Tournament would hold in Kano in September.

“It was decided by the board of NFF to have a youth tournament for Nigerian youth in U-13 and U-15.

“We have come to realise that Nigeria is fast losing its prime position in youth championships.

“We are more focused in competitions without developing the youth that are supposed to be the bedrock of our national teams.

“NFF feels we should have a youth policy where our young players across the country under the ages of 13 and 15 will have equal opportunity to showcase their talents,’’ he said.

Akinwumi, who is also the first vice-president of NFF, said that each state would register 18 players with two standby and five coaches that would participate at the zonal competition.

“All states in a zone will participate at the zonal level, while the best 20 players will be selected to represent the zone at the national level,’’ he said.

Akinwumi said that the nucleus of the players for the U-17 was expected to be discovered from the championships.

“It is easier to choose the U-17 national team players through the process and reduce the age cheat,’’ he said.

Akinwumi said that some of the players discovered at the first edition were exposed to international tournament in Morocco.

He said as part of the development policy of NFF, young referees with minimum of CAF C licence would officiate at the tournament, which would expose and develop their skills.

“Young referees will be used for the tournament. This is aim at developing our young referees and serve as motivation for aspiring young players that want to pursue a career in refereeing.

“We cannot pretend that some people will not want to cheat, but we will invite some unbiased old people in the business of football to help screen the players.

“Knowledgeable coaches will be given the responsibility of selecting the players from the championships for the national team,’’ he said.

Pascal Or, the Zenith Bank representative, commended the NFF for the initiative.

“Zenith Bank decided to be involved in the project because we believe that potential of our youths can be enhanced through sports.

“We are happy to partner with NFF; sports development is one of our corporate responsibilities.

“We call on other corporate bodies to take a queue in investing in Nigerian youth through sports,’’ Or said.

The deadline for submission of entries is Sept. 10, while zonal tournament is scheduled for Sept.13 to Sept.16.

The group stage final and semi-final has been slated for Sept. 20 to Sept. 22 in Kano, while the final will hold in October in Lagos.