ABUJA – The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appealed to corporate organisations in the country to sponsor football as part of their social corporate responsibility.
Mohammed Sanusi, NFF Director of Competition, made the appeal on Monday in Abuja at a press briefing in preparation for the 2014 All Financial Institutions Football Competition (AFIFC) organised by the CBN.
Sanusi noted that the sponsorship of AFIFC by the CBN was another way of fighting social vices in the society and urged other organisations to emulate the idea.
“I urge other corporate organisations to emulate what the CBN is doing.
“This competition has achieved its objective and it has provided an opportunity for members of the financial institutions to know one another.
“The idea has provided avenue for youths to watch and play good football and at the same time help fight social vices,’’ Sanusi said.
Ibrahim Muazu, Director, Corporate Communications of CBN, told newsmen that 24 teams would participate in this year’s event which has N5 million as total prize money.
Muazu, who was represented by Isaac Okoroafor, said the preliminary matches of the competition would commence on Oct. 2 and end on Oct. 7 in four zones.
The zones are Oshogbo, Kaduna, Enugu and Benin, while Asaba and Lokoja will host the semi-finals on Oct. 12; final of the competition will take place at the Township Stadium, Ilorin, Kwara.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you will agree with me that this competition serves as a platform for the promotion of unity, harmony and peaceful co-existence among key players in Nigeria’s financial system.
“The CBN is therefore committed to making positive contributions towards the promotion and development of the game of football by sponsoring the competition annually. [eap_ad_1] “This is in line with the Bank’s corporate social responsibility programme; we therefore urge all participating teams to exhibit an unrelenting spirit of sportsmanship,’’ Muazu said.
He added that the CBN was already in talks with three ex-internationals who would grace the final of the competition to boost the morale of players and motivate them to pursue football careers.
Oshogbo hosts the Office of the Accountant General of Federation (AGF), Enterprise Bank (Kaduna), FCMB (Lagos), Badawa MFB (Jos), Ikeja MFB (Lagos) and Sadiqma MFB (Minna).
Group B with Kaduna as centre has Security and Exchange Commission (Abuja), First Bank (Lagos), Tangale MFB (Gombe), Biaji MFB (FCT), Kakadusa MFB (Minna) and Ajene MFB (Otukpo).
CBN (Abuja), Access Bank (Lagos), Dadinkowa MFB (Jos), Kwali MFB (FCT), Union Assurance (Lagos), and Aleikum MFB (Odogbolu, Ogun) will slug it out in Group C with Enugu as their centre.
Group D with centre in Benin has Federal Ministry of Finance (Abuja), FIRS (Abuja), Union Bank (Lagos), Ogirikpa MFB (Markurdi), Kada MFB (Kaduna) and Peace MFB (Ijebu Ode, Ogun).
Kanu Nwankwo, a former Super Eagles Captain, attended last year’s final that took place in Lokoja. (NAN)
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