Sani Lulu Restates Commitment To Grassroots Football Development

Former NFF President Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi has restated his commitment to the development of football at the grassroots.

Lulu who spoke at the finals of the 2014 edition of the FOSLA U.13 Football competition in Kogi state, said that the selected players from the state would have the opportunity of participating in the final stages of the FOSLA Academy scholarship scheme holding later in the year in Abuja.

He was full of appreciation to all those who contributed to the success of the tournament.

At the final match, Idah U13 boys emerged champions with a 2-0 victory over their counterparts from Omala LGA. Idah Local Government Area (LGA) boys scored in both halves through Abdullahi Abubakar and James Sunday to nick victory at the Qua Ibo Primary School field.

They lifted a gigantic trophy and cash award of N30,000, while runners-up Omala LGA boys went home with a silver-made trophy and N20,000.

The annual football competition which had the participation of nine teams from Kogi  Eastern zone of the state have been solely sponsored by the former President of the Nigeria Football Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi.

Also speaking, the captain of Idah LGA boys, Samuel Emmanuel credited the victory to the hard work and promised that they will sustained their dreams to becoming future stars.

Speaking separately, chairman of Kogi State Football Association, Yahaya Adama and that of Kogi United and Confluence
Queens, Mallam Abdul Adama, hailed the sponsor Alhaji Sani Lulu for his consistent supports to developing grassroots football and expressed high hopes in the growth of the game in the state.

Among other dignitaries present at the finals were the chairman Kogi State FA, Mallam Adama Yahaya; the Commissioner of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Honorable Abubakar Sadiq Ainoko; Special Adviser on Public Private Partnership, who doubles as the Chairman of Kogi United and Confluence Queens, Mallam Abdul Adama; Nigeria Football Federation’s Director of Marketing Mallam Idris Adama; among others.

Meanwhile, twenty players have been shortlisted for an entrance test and screening for scholarship into the FOSLA Academy.

The selected players are Emma Peters, Sylvester O. Sylvester, Emmanuel Yakubu, Danlami Musa, Bigman Amana, Uhini Gambo and Samuel Emmanuel all of winning team, Idah. Simeon Zakari, Solomon Yusuf from Igalamela and from Bassa are Hassan Abubakar, Zachi Victor, while from Ofu are Ayuba Usman, Mohammed Rufai, Danjuma Mohammed.

Picked from Omala, who finished as runners-up are Bala Abdullahi, Clement Edegbo, Saidu Abubakar and Sulieman Yunusa, while from Dekina are Adaji Timothy, Hussien Mohammed and Usman Meyanga.