Eid-el-kabir: YSFON Boss Felicitates With Muslims

The president of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), Dr Nasir Yusuf Gawuna has felicitated with the Muslim Ummah and Nigerian sportsmen and women on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

In his Sallah message to all the state chapters, members and friends of the foremost grassroots sports body in the country, Gawuna urged Nigerian youths to keep their spirits up in spite of the coronavirus pandemic, saying the deadly virus, which caught the world off guard, has put a damper on what would otherwise have been a time of celebration for the Muslim faithful.

Gawuna, who also doubles as Deputy Governor of Kano State, enjoined the Muslims to embark on low key celebration and maintain proper hygiene, wash hands regularly with soap and running water, use sanitizers, as well as observe social distancing as a way of fighting the deadly virus.

He assured that YSFON numerous programmes will bounce back after COVID-19 scourge to avail the opportunities to develop their talents, saying with concerted efforts they would be gainfully employed and crime will be reduced to its barest minimum.

Gawuna appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies to support YSFON in its quest to return the country to the leading role it played in world youth football in the 80s and 90s.

He also appealed to sportsmen and women whose means of livelihood were badly affected by the prolonged lockdown on sporting activities as part of measures to curtail the global pandemic for their understanding and cooperation with government.

Sani Lulu Awards scholarship to 25 students

The founder and proprietor of fosla Academy, karshi Abuja, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, has awarded Scholarship to 25 Students drawn from both Kogi State and the Federal capital Territory, to undertake their Secondary Education with special skills training in Football for the 2019 Academic sesssion.

The annual event which took place recently in the institutions premises attracted dignitaries from all works of life including Fifa agents, NFF officials and Football enthusiasts.

The event comprised the written Exams, followed by the Novelty marches between Under 13 Teams from Kogi state and The Federal Capital Territory, in both male and female categories.

Applicants were required to pass the written Examination and also pass the Talent Screening during the Novelty marches under carefull scrutiny of a number of proffessional football coaches.

The principal of the Academy, Mrs Josephine Eboadeghe lamented the failure of parents and even Some Football Coaches in determining and declaring the true ages of Student intakes into the institution.

She said that “as a school that combines both knowledge and skills for empowerment, we are working round the clock inclusive of making investigations to ensure that the right students with the Best Academic and football skills are selected and given Admission into the Academy”

The Fosla Academy runs a special secondary school curriculum that is combined with special training in football skills at FIFA rated international standards.

The Founder and Proprietor of the Academy and former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, (August 2006 to July 2010) Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi Founded the School with the vision to establish a unique and foremost Secondary School that will help talented indigent youths develop their football skills while receiving comprehensive world class Secondary Education.

Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, a kogi state Governorship aspirant and Chieftain of APC, further reiterated that Fosla Academy emerged to provide an avenue for the youths that are naturally endowed in football to have congenial platform to develop tbeir talents and receive comprehensive secondary Education, with the aim of moulding the students into “leaders and legends in the game of football, patriotic and ingenious world citizens who will be unbounded in their desire to excell”

The Academy started in 2010 with 25 boys and 7 girls drawn from amongst the indigent, orphans and abandoned football skilled students.

The Academy avails Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, the opportunity of serving Nigeria in the capacity of training the Under 13 young football talents as a way of giving back to society.

He revealed that the school is partnering with the Nassarawa state University to enable the students continue in the line of knowledge and football skills in their tertiary Education.

The Challenges the school is currently facing is that of poachers who are waiting around the corner to snatch the students, but the dream of the school for the students is to be football star graduates.

In his goodwill remarks, he prayed that Nigerian players would excell and compete favourably with their peers globally.

“we are proud to be Nigerians, that is what Fosla Academy stands for, Our dream is to use fosla Academy to make Nigeria better”

The FOSLA ACADEMY is located on a six hectre property in the Karshi Surburb of the Federal capital territory FCT. Plans are underway to buld an international stadium facility in the premise.

The School is open to all students with football talents whose parents and guardians can afford their fees.

The school is also willing to partner with high networth individuals, corporate bodies and football enthusiasts who are willing to sponsor the training of talented young football students to develop their skills while pursuing their secondary Education.

NFF mulls innovation to infuse football into Nigeria economy

By John Akubo

The Amaju Pinnick Led Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is set to unveil a new innovation that would make Football an integral part of the Nigerian Economy for better vibrancy in the soccer game.
Speaking, at the first ever Grassroot Soccer Talent Hunt organised by the Social Democratic Party candidate for Kogi Central Senatorial district he said his second tenure is basically going to be utilized in infusing soccer into the economy.
He said the major drawback in the NFF is the lack of innovative drive to bring on board strategies to make the game more viable for economic benefits.
“We are coming out with a new innovation which is football Economy, trying to make football an integral part of the Nigerian economy at the appropriate time we shall unveil it to you. This our second tenure is to basically infuse Nigerian football as part of the economy.”
As football administrators he said they are not politicians hence their strong believe in showcasing the unity of Nigeria.
“In my election the North Central zone gave me 95% of their votes so whe I wanted to embark on my first official outing, I told them wherever they invite me to I will go so when I was invited I had to call the chairman of Kogi State Sports Federation to seek for clearance.”
He promised to come again when they are going to work out something to make the grassroots soccer talent hunt in Kogi State an NFF event.
On the march between Amaju Pinnick Team and Natasha Akpoti Team he admonished the players to Play the game without trying to impress him because they will depress him if they do.
Accoding to him, with the grassroots soccer talent hunt tournament he assured that Football in Kogi and Ebira land will rise again to become a vibrant hotbed of talents.
“I want to come here next year, I want to come here in two years time by then you begin to see your players in the under 17, under 20 and in the super Eagles
“You are going to see more of your people play in the supper eagles in future
We exist because of football so irrespective of where the game is played we are always very excited.
He thanked President Mohammadu Buhari for his support during the crises even as he congratulated Kogi for the feat in which Kogi United made it to the supper 8.
“But the big congratulation goes to the organizers of the Grassroots Soccer Talent Hunt tournament.’
“What is going on here is a talent hunt and talent hunt has to do with the grassroots for football development which is one of the cardinal reason why we exist as a federation, to spot the talents at the grassroots and see how we can build them seamlessly transiting them to the various levels from Under 17, to under 20 and to the super eagles.”
“Watching the game I have seen two very enterprising players today and Daniel Amokachi is there to spot one or two more players so we can make up our under 13 it under 15 team depending on their ages.
“We will convert it into a tournament that would be protected by the Nigerian Football Federation.”

The organizer of the tournament Barrister Natasha Akpoti said she grew up in the land till the age of 18,.
“I am a typical Ihima girl, so I know the streets, all the corners and it might interest you to know that every evening all the fields across the lands of the central, we see young boys playing football matches exhibiting amazing skills but no opportunity to take them beyond.
“It is because of them and many others that that dream is coming true today.
I know in my deepest conviction that as you are going to witness these young boys from the entire State play, today that you will be so impressed with your team somehow you will give them the opportunity so that in the nearest future we can have among them stars like Daniel Amokachi.
And to the youths she reminded them that everyone drove through the impassable roads to be in Ihima to witness them play and to give them the opportunity of a life time.
“I don’t want you to miss out of an opportunity to build your lives. The difference between you and those that have made it in soccer like Amokachi is the opportunity not that you don’t have the skills and that is what you have here. “So as you take your position and play, I urge you all to play your hearts out. Play like everything you ever wanted depends on this moment.
“Do not make us regret all the trials on the bad road. Remember that all the dreams of those who had played soccer on this field and all the corners. The dreams of the Rock of the 70s, the NEPA team of the 70s probably you all were not born then but they were young men like you who played and had skills but we’re not recognized.
“So I urge you to think of them, think of your parents, your community and your State and make it a pledge to yourself that just like many other States from the North, South, East and West that have produced the finest international soccer players that you too deserves to have your name written in the sand of times in football.”

She said the tournament is an opportunity to showcase the very best of grassroots soccer talents expressing the hope that at the end of the day the boys should be able to impress the NFF so that some of them can play in the National team.
“So what we are doing is simply to give them an opportunity to the guys so that their all’s would be appreciated and they can contribute to the development of the country.
“Soccer is a unifying factor I am from Central but it would be selfish of me to organize such an event just for my people
The grand finale of the Talent Hunt Tournament between the Amaju Pinnick Team and the Natasha Akpoti Team ended 5 goals to 2 in favour of the Amaju Pinnick Team.