NAN-S-9
Sponsorship
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, June 19, 2017 (NAN) The Cerebral Palsy Football Association of Nigeria (CPFAN) has appealed to corporate organisations and sports philanthropists for sponsorship to play friendly matches ahead of the 2017 Cerebral Palsy Football World Championships.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sport for people living with Cerebral Palsy is a 7-A-Side Football for players with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders.
It’s being governed by the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Federation (IFCPF), organisers of the world championships to be staged in San Luis Argentina, from Sept. 3 to Sept. 23.
Gbenga Dosumu, the National Coach of the CPFAN, told NAN that training was in progress and that it was necessary to engage the footballers in friendly matches as part of their preparations.
Dosunmu said that Nigeria had scheduled a friendly match with the Ghana Cerebral Palsy national team in July and that it had compelled its appeal for sponsorship to embark on the tour.
“We actually have three friendly matches in the pipeline, one in Ghana, South Africa and Tunisia but we have liaised to play with the Ghana team on July 1.
“While we are training and preparing for the trip, we are also appealing to private and public companies and individuals to support us financially to make the trip.
“There is need to take advantage of all friendly matches to evaluate our footballers and know the areas of weakness that we need to improve upon before the tournament,’’ he said.
He added that the friendly game would give them the opportunity to be well informed about the classification of players, stressing that they were classified according to level of disorder.
Dosumu said that the exposure would inspire them to be more committed.
“We really need to participate in friendly matches because it serves as build-up to competition and has to do with players’ classifications as some international officials will be there,’’ he added.
He said that the players were enthusiastic to exhibit their skills through such opportunities and were ready to represent the country in the football fiesta in September.
NAN reports that classes C5, C6, C7 and C8 players were approved for play, while each team must field at least one class C5 or C6 player at all times. (NAN)
MIL/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)