The Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) has commended leading telecommunications service provider, Airtel Nigeria, for its commitment towards the development of grassroots football through the Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) U17 tournament.
Speaking at the recently concluded ARS Regional Championship held in Abuja, the National Organising Secretary of YSFON, Abdulrazak Usman, noted that the tournament has improved over the years.
In his words: “All the participants, over the years are selected based on skills and qualification. The youth of this great country are greatly talented and they need a platform like this one provided by Airtel to express their talent. The company is engaging them meaningfully and these kids are using their energy and skills positively. This is a very commendable way to curb vices.”
Usman, who was involved in both the screening exercise and coordination of the matches, expressed optimism that the talent from the tournament have enough potential to become professional footballers in the near future.
“No doubt fresh talents will be discovered at this championship and we optimistic that they will move up to professional football because these boys and girls look forward to the competition every year. Before this year’s edition started, they have been coming to make enquiries about it. Their belief in this championship is very strong that is why they have been turning out in large number to participate,” he noted.
In a similar vein, Ex-Super Eagles International and Technical Adviser to teams in the Airtel Rising Stars U17 football tournament, Garba Lawal, also commended the Telco for the youth development initiative.
According to him, “Airtel has done commendably well from the first season to this fifth season and they deserve great applause for their commitment to the development of talented youth across Nigeria. This is the kind of programme we did not have during our time, we started from the streets and believe that with these types of platforms, the sky will be the limit for these kids.
Lawal, who was at the Old parade Ground venue of the Abuja Regional Championship to mentor the players, expressed optimism that North Region will present very formidable opposition at the national finals slated to hold in Lagos, later this month..
“We are looking forward to having a very good outing at the National Finals in Lagos. Just like last year we had a solid male team but we lost. It was a fantastic game and I really enjoyed it,” he said.
The male team from Benue State and the female team from Plateau State emerged winners of the North Regina Championships and will represent the North Region at the National Finals of Airtel Rising Star Season 5 slated to hold in Lagos.
ARS is a football talent-hunt platform conceived by the Airtel Group with the objective of identifying and nurturing budding soccer talent from the grassroots onto a national stage. It is noteworthy that the past four editions of ARS programme have produced exceptionally talented Nigerians, including Musa Mohammed Shehu - Captain Golden Eaglets U17- (ARS 2011); Zahradden Bello- U17- ARS (2012); AL Hassan Ibrahim Abdullahi- U17- ARS (2011); Muri Lawal- Sunshine Stars FC Akure- ARS (2011) and Josephine Mathias- Falconets, Pelican Stars FC Calabar - ARS (2011).
Speaking at the recently concluded ARS Regional Championship held in Abuja, the National Organising Secretary of YSFON, Abdulrazak Usman, noted that the tournament has improved over the years.
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| Ex-Super Eagles International and Technical Adviser in the ARS 5 U-17 Championship, Garba Lawal (2nd l); National Organising Secretary, Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), Abdulrazak Usman (r) with two outstanding players, Sunday Ugor (l) and Rita Sunday (2nd r) at the ongoing Abuja Regional Championship, at Old Parade Ground, Abuja on Friday. |
Usman, who was involved in both the screening exercise and coordination of the matches, expressed optimism that the talent from the tournament have enough potential to become professional footballers in the near future.
“No doubt fresh talents will be discovered at this championship and we optimistic that they will move up to professional football because these boys and girls look forward to the competition every year. Before this year’s edition started, they have been coming to make enquiries about it. Their belief in this championship is very strong that is why they have been turning out in large number to participate,” he noted.
In a similar vein, Ex-Super Eagles International and Technical Adviser to teams in the Airtel Rising Stars U17 football tournament, Garba Lawal, also commended the Telco for the youth development initiative.
According to him, “Airtel has done commendably well from the first season to this fifth season and they deserve great applause for their commitment to the development of talented youth across Nigeria. This is the kind of programme we did not have during our time, we started from the streets and believe that with these types of platforms, the sky will be the limit for these kids.
Lawal, who was at the Old parade Ground venue of the Abuja Regional Championship to mentor the players, expressed optimism that North Region will present very formidable opposition at the national finals slated to hold in Lagos, later this month..
“We are looking forward to having a very good outing at the National Finals in Lagos. Just like last year we had a solid male team but we lost. It was a fantastic game and I really enjoyed it,” he said.
The male team from Benue State and the female team from Plateau State emerged winners of the North Regina Championships and will represent the North Region at the National Finals of Airtel Rising Star Season 5 slated to hold in Lagos.
ARS is a football talent-hunt platform conceived by the Airtel Group with the objective of identifying and nurturing budding soccer talent from the grassroots onto a national stage. It is noteworthy that the past four editions of ARS programme have produced exceptionally talented Nigerians, including Musa Mohammed Shehu - Captain Golden Eaglets U17- (ARS 2011); Zahradden Bello- U17- ARS (2012); AL Hassan Ibrahim Abdullahi- U17- ARS (2011); Muri Lawal- Sunshine Stars FC Akure- ARS (2011) and Josephine Mathias- Falconets, Pelican Stars FC Calabar - ARS (2011).
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