Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Social Events, Princess Atika Ajana, current Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, former Nigeria Football Federation Secretary General, Fanny Amu, and Nigeria National League Chief Operating Officer, Emmanuel Attah have all showered encomium on former Super Eagles player, Femi Ajilore and his team for his commitment toward the promotion of youth league in the Federal Capital Territory.
The special dignitaries which also included the Mandate Secretary women affairs FCTA Hon Dr Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi were all guests at the closing ceremony of the 2024 edition of the Kids Soccer League season which took place at the HOFK park and garden, Wuye just recently.
The elated guests were all treated to football artistry by the young lads, and several of them who spoke with our correspondent expressed deep appreciation for Femi Ajilore and his team for consistently putting together the youth league.
The SSA while speaking said Ajilore must be supported and encouraged by relevant authorities in Nigeria so as to empower him to do more:
“I honestly love what is happening here. I have not missed it as well in two years. It’s always fun to watch and it’s a place to hunt talent. I remember that they were about two young stars that got medals here last year who are now playing in the UK. We are very proud of them and we are very happy and also look to better program in the future.
“The program has done a lot to the children, especially for their mind development and given them a sense of belonging, a sense of oh! I can do it. And now they now watch football, they follow football and they also know that there are a lot of development that can come in through football, so they take it passionately. So, it’s something that I think every parent should do because as they say, catch them young. We have players here who can stand any competition of their age anywhere in the world they find theirselves.
“Coach Femi Ajilore needs all the support. I personally think Government should come to his aide in some of this because himself and his co-coaches are doing a lot. If you see what the parents are paying for their children in this academy you will know that they are just giving back to the society that made them. So, they are not really getting much. So, they need a support, they need to be recognized by the ministry of sports. And I have also told him that I will personally make sure I lend my voice wherever that it is necessary,”
Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria National League, Emmanuel Attah encouraged him to keep it up as he he is doing well in developing and discovering future football talent for the country.
“What I have seen here is quite amazing and fantastic. Young talents, ages 8 to 14 been brought together to compete in a mini league. This goes to show that Nigeria has a very very great future because I have seen some great talents been showcased here. I want to commend the organizers, former Super Eagles player, Femi Ajilore and his team. Ya, I am not surprised with what he is doing for our children because he has always been an ambitious person, very disciplined and dedicated. I think I will always want to be part of this.
“He should keep it up. The prayers of these children will always be with him because he is building their future right here. I think he need all encouragement and support,” he stated.
Meanwhile, former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation, Fanny Amu admonished other Nigeria footballers and Athletes to do more to educate themselves stressing that after the sporting career it is the knowledge they aquire that will pull them through just like the case of Femi Ajilore:
“First and foremost I have always emphasized that our players, our Athletes, they should be educated to a certain level. It has always paid well for those that know their capacity. You can say you plan for ten years or five years, but anything could happen and you are off.
“I think Ajilore prepared for this. If the other side of those players that says government did not help them, if that side who says government has abandoned them. The other side of the players or Athletes that says ministry or the Federations did not do anything about them. No it was a trade by batter. You come and play, I invite you, I pay your ticket, I feed you, I put you in the best of hotels and I give you allowances and you gave me your services. Is it me that would tell you how to save your own
“There are two ways, it’s either you save money or you save k knowledge. Knowledge is always better than money because if you don’t have the knowledge the money will just go.
So, I am happy that he has been able to translate himself into the education aspect of it because it’s education, where he has to train and retrain. And look at his approach, he is a very humble man. He will call you, he will text you and communicate same with you. Education is good. I wouldn’t know his level of education but I know that he is educated. Education does not mean that you go to the university,” Amu concluded.
For current Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, he expressed satisfaction with the quality of football talent he saw in the Academy promising to always assist Ajilore in whatever aspects he would want him to come in.
Conclusively, Femi Ajilore expressed satisfaction with the responses the program has gathered over the years:
“We have seen tremendous improvement in this year’s edition. Of course there were many challenges as well, but those challenges have helped us to stay strong and as you can see the final day was massive. We had lots of dignitaries, former internationals, people from the Federations, from other ministries. You can see that the mandate secretary was here, the SSA to the president was there, the chairman NNL was there. You know it was a huge one for us.
“And of course I will want to congratulate the team that emerged as the winner of this year’s edition. It was not that easy. Last year they participated but they could not win, but this year they worked really hard and you can see the result of hard work. So, I am very happy for them. Of course Team FAFC which happens to be my team could not retain their trophy in the under age. But that is football and that is the most interesting part,”
“Special thanks to the Chairman of the FCT FA, Alhaji Abba Mounktar, and the entire board members of The FCTFA for endorsing these projects into the FCT FA grassroots Football Development, which is a foundational platform for young talented and aspiring footballers to compete in order to improve their performance and grow with it and hopefully becoming future stars.
“Big thanks to The former Secretary General NFA now NFF Ambassador Fanny Amun, M.O.N, Super Eagles Captain Ahmed Musa M.O.N, O.O.N , the Chairman NNL Mr Attah, Former U20 national coach and Board member chairman disciplinary committee FCTFA Coach Abimbola and also special thanks to the Mandate Secretary women affairs FCTA Hon Dr Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, Senior Special Assistant to the president on Social Events Princess Atika Ajanah for their moral and financial support towards the success of the K.S.L , also our media partners, Ajasanews ,Global TV and other top dignitaries for coming out to support grassroots football development,” Ajilore concluded.
Meanwhile, bellow are the winners in the three categories of matches that were played
U9 winner : N-YOUTH SPORTS ACADEMY
U11 Winner : N-YOUTH SPORTS ACADEMY
U14 Winner : FAITH FAMILY FOOTBALL ACADEMY
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