ABUJA – Sports Minister Tammy Danagogo has tasked the organising committee of President’s Cup to use the avenue to be created by the competition to discover talented footballers for the country.
Danagogo gave the task in Abuja on Thursday while inaugurating the committee.
He urged it to ensure that the 774 local government areas of the country were reached.
He said that government decided to identify with the group since it coincided with President Jonathan’s sports development agenda.
“It is initiated by some of our ex-internationals who are desirous to see that the legacies they have left in the annals of our history are carried on by our budding talents.
“Most of you were part of the Sports Summit in 2012 where Mr President sat with major stakeholders to form a roadmap to transform our sports.
“One of the cardinal points in that roadmap is to go down to the grassroots to scout for the talents we have in this country and catch them young.
“So, it behoves on you (the committee) to go round this country and get these budding talents so as to produce the future Kanu Nwankwos’, Peter Rufais’, Jay-Jay Okochas’ and so on,’’ Danagogo charged.
He also said that government would ensure that private sector resources were deplored in nurturing the discovered talents for the transformation of the country’s sports.
The minister noted that Nigerian football would be the beneficiary if the committee’s set targets were followed to the later.
“The second part of the roadmap is to see how we can explore private sector resources to support government effort in galvanising these talents for the transformation of our sports.
“So what we are targeting these talents from the rural areas at a young age; that is why it’s a very crucial assignment,’’ he added.
The competition designed for youths within the ages of 16 to 19 will soon commence in the 774 local governments areas of the country.
It will later move to the states from where it will shift to the zones before the finals in Abuja.
NAN also reports that Alhassan Yakmut will serve as Chairman of the committee, while Paul Abraham will serve as its Secretary.
Some members of the committee include Alim Musa, the FCT Director of Sports; Sanusi Mohammed, a representative of the Nigeria Football Association, and Ademola Are, representative of the National Sports Commission.
Others are DSP Sani Babana, representing the Nigerian Police; Sunday Okhai, Nigeria Referee Association; Victor Orji, National Orientation Agency, and Sylvester Ikuejamoye, a former President of Federation of Public Service Games.
Andrew Abba, the Secretary-General of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Kayode Adeniyi, the Chairman of SWAN, FCT chapter are also members of the committee. (NAN)