Airtel Nigeria, Wednesday in Lagos kicked off the 4th
edition of Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) U-17 male and female tournament, a
grass-root football talent search programme aimed at identifying and nurturing
budding soccer talent from the grassroots onto a national stage, reports ITRealms.
This, ITRealms
gathered is coming 10 months after a successful hosting of the 3rd edition of
the ARS, an Africa-wide grassroots tournament that underscores the company’s
avowed commitment to creating excitement for sports lovers as well as providing
empowerment opportunities for Nigerian youth.
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel
Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, noted that the soccer initiative is the company’s
contribution to sports development and youth empowerment in Nigeria.
Ogunsanya who was accompanied by ex Super Eagles and Falcons
Stars including Peter Rufai, Ann Chiejine, Chioma Ajunwa, Garba Lawal and Mutiu
Adepoju said football in Nigeria elicits passion, creates fun and engenders
unity.
“Airtel wants to be
an integral part of local communities and our association with football has
strong elements of creating positive change and engagement. ARS is our
contribution to building and sustaining a rich pool of football talents for the
Super Eagles and Falcons,” he said.
While highlighting
the success of the Airtel Rising Starts intervention, the Airtel CEO also noted
that the initiative has provided strong platforms for empowering exceptionally
talented Nigerians.
"It is on record that
the Airtel Rising Stars Football programme has produced exceptional talents
some of whom are: Musa Mohammed Shehu- Captain Golden Eaglets U17- (ARS 2011);
Zahradden Bello- U17- ARS (2012); AL Hassan Ibrahim Abdullahi- U17- ARS (2011);
Muri Lawal- Sunshine Stars FC Akure- ARS (2011) and Josephine Mathias-
Falconets, Pelican Stars FC Calabar- ARS (2011),” he said.
According to Ogunsanya,
the fourth edition of the Airtel Rising Stars programme will be played in
different regions across the country, culminating in the National Finals, a
three-day soccer fiesta. Thereafter, the successful male and female teams will
travel to Gabon to compete for continental glory in Africa’s biggest youth
football tournament with participation from 17 countries.
With over 50,000
active participants over the last 3 seasons, ARS enjoys the endorsement and
support of football bodies such as Lagos State Football Association (LSFA),
Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), Arsenal Football Club and Nigeria
School Sports Federation (NSSF). This year, Airtel is partnering ex super
eagles and falcons stars to offer technical support and advisory services to the
youngsters.
Beginning with Open
Screening Camps in five locations, where the participants will be screened for
age compliance and given the opportunity to showcase their talents, the
selected male and female teams in each camp will proceed to Lagos to challenge
for honors at the National Finals.
The Airtel Rising Stars U-17 Tourney, a unique pan African
initiative of Airtel Africa, is designed to provide support for the development
of football talents across Nigeria. It aims at discovering talented students
(male and female) of secondary school age and providing them the opportunity to
gain football skills and develop into renowned stars.
The Airtel Rising Stars registration will kick-off from
today, June 4th, 2014 to Friday, June 27th, 2014 and is expected to draw
thousands of participants across the country. The registration forms will be
available at Airtel Express shops nationwide.
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