Admin l Thursday, December 15, 2016
ABUJA, Nigeria – National Technical Director, Mr. Bitrus Bewarang is the latest prominent personality to applaud the idea behind the NFF/Zenith Bank Future Eagles Championship.
Bewarang, a former Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles during the Golden Era period, who later coached the U20 National Team, told thenff.com that his trip to Ijebu-Ode and Lagos convinced him that Nigeria will never lack talented players in the game.
“I am delighted with the entire good job done by the NFF Youth Football Committee, headed by the NFF 1st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi. They did well to ensure that the competition covered the States and then moved to the zonal finals. They also picked the right persons as selectors, people like Siji Lagunju and Edema Fuludu.
“I saw excellent football by young, talented and ambitious kids. On the evidence of what I saw in Ijebu-Ode and Lagos, I believe that in the nearest future, we would be making use of very young players, in the mould of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi, for the Super Eagles.”
The former General Manager of Plateau United FC also hailed competition sponsors Zenith Bank International PLC, assuring the bank that its name will be etched in gold once the prodigies start making waves in the NPFL, Super Eagles and top Leagues overseas.
“The bank has put its money in the right place, and I am using this opportunity to call on other big players in Corporate Nigeria to embrace sports, because by embracing sports, they are assuring the future of the youth.
“Certainly, the NFF/Zenith Bank Future Eagles Championship is a welcome development. I want to implore the bank not to rest on its oars, but rather guarantee that the competition has come to stay as an annual carnival for the young and determined boys from the grassroots.”
The South West U15 team won the intermediate category at the inaugural NFF/Zenith Bank Future Eagles Championship, which finals took place at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos on Monday. They defeated South East 2-0, while North Central finished third by defeating South South 4-1.
In the junior category, the U13 team of South East emerged champions, beating South South 4-2 in the final. South West took third place by defeating North Central 3-0.
