The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will monitor and nurture exceptional athletes from the revived National Principals’ Cup Competition to stardom, an official has said. Dr Ademola Are, the ministry’s Director of Grassroots Sports Development, told newsmen last Monday in Abuja that government would work with all relevant stakeholders to achieve this.
He said the ministry in working closely with relevant stakeholders would ensure outstanding athletes at the competition were further developed and exposed.
“We are making sure that talents identified at this level will be handed over to the various sports federations who are expected to take over and groom them for possible podium success for Nigeria in the nearest future,”. Are who is also the Chairman, Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the competition said.
He added that the ministry was desirous of having great footballers again who came through the ranks of the Principals Cup.
Are noted that the revived competition, which now has other sports such as table tennis and athletics aside football, is now at the zonal stage.
“Thirty-seven schools will now be playing at the zonal finals from Thursday to March 22 in six centres across the country.
“The grand finale of the competition will hold from March 26 to March 31 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja,” he said.
Are said the state finals were supervised by stakeholders such as the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) and Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) because of their closeness to the grassroots.
He however disclosed that any school found to have used or intending to use non-students would be heavily sanctioned and disqualified.
Tidesports source gathered that the revived National Principals Cup is an initiative of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare.
It is geared towards the discovery of talents in secondary schools.