NAN-S-6
Prize
By Omuboye Sukubo
Port Harcourt, Sept. 14, 2016 (NAN) Excel Education Centre in Rivers, has received a cheque of N2.5m prize for winning the 18th edition of the NNPC/SHELL Football Championship for Nigerian secondary schools.
The Port Harcourt-based school received the cheque being the remainder of N3.5m overall price for the tournament at a brief ceremony in Port Harcourt on Wednesday
Speaking at the event, Shell’s General Manager, External Relations, Igo Weli, said the school put up `a very spectacular performance’ during the competition.
Represented by Alice Ajeh, Manager, Stakeholders Relations of SPDC, Weli said that the prize was to support sport development in the winning school.
“We have earlier given the sum of one million naira, what we have done today is to fulfill the remaining obligation,’’ he said.
According to Weli, the championship at various stages showed that Nigeria’s secondary schools had numerous talents that require support.
“This holds a great promise for the future of football in Nigeria; it is in ensuring the nurturing of our youth and to guarantee a safe future that we introduced this championship 1998.
“Our primary focus remains to promote the simultaneous pursuit of football careers and academic excellence among our youths,’’ he said.
Weli disclosed that Shell had entered a partnership with a world-class youth development institution, Feyenoord Youth Academy of Rotterdam, Netherlands for international recognition of the championship.
“The agreement also provides for seasoned managers from the academy to train the quarterfinalists and their coaches before the semi-final and final matches.
“And for the first time, Feyenoord coaches selected two of the best players for training tour of the Academy. One of them Kelvin Amadi is from the winning team’’ he said.
In his remark, Prof. Kanaiye Ebeku, Rivers commissioner for education, said the NNPC-Shell joint venture to develop football was quite commendable.
“What you are doing to is educational, remember that sport is educational. I am here because I appreciate your contribution to education in this regard.
“This is recognition for excellence. The Rivers Government is happy to be part of this event. We see this as part of your social corporate responsibility,” he said.
Ebeku commended the school for conquering secondary schools in Nigeria by winning the overall price in the tournament.
Principal of the school, Florence Dambari, commended SPDC for sponsoring the championship, describing it as `a sound training opportunity for future soccer stars’
“We dedicate this victory to God Almighty, we thank him for the strength and enablement to come out with victory, she said. (NAN)
OAS/AZU/MEMO
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Edited by Azubike and Controlled by Mike Mbonye