Barring any unforeseen hitches, the Niger State’s Chapter of the Federation of Youth Soccer Clubs (FEYSOC) is set to embark on a move soon to scout and discover hidden soccer stars existing in the nooks and crannies of Niger State .
This is with a view to nurturing them into a formidable squad capable of bringing back soccer glory to the state and the nation at large.
The project is part of an aggressive and ambitious youth soccer talent hunt being personally led and driven by the Director General of FEYSOC in Niger State, Alhaji Umar Batako Lapai, a celebrated former national soccer impresario.
He dropped the hint at the finals of the 2021 Emir of Minna Under-14 football competition which took place at the Late Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium, Minna last week’s Friday.
Alhaji Lapai said that FEYSOC’s vision is to utilize football competitions among age grades in the state as hunting grounds to discover hidden soccer talents and to halt the depleting ranks of soccer greats in the country.
According to him, the talent hunt is targeted at bringing back the lost glory of national grassroots sports development using Niger State as a case study and launch pad.
He disclosed that the Niger State Chapter of FEYSOC was fully convinced that an urgent resuscitation of age grade football competitions in the country would indirectly tackle some of the current socio-economic challenges such as youth restiveness in the country.
Lamenting that age grade competitions, particularly those organized by FEYSOC had virtually disappeared in the highly human-resourced and blessed state such as Niger, he expressed commitment to reviving the competitions as a matter of utmost urgency to propel the State to its pristine position in national youth and sports development.
Alh. Batako Lapai described FEYSOC as the cradle of grassroots football development and as such they will do their best to see that all FEYSOC-organized competitions are resuscitated for the growth and development of the round leather game.
“When you talk of grassroots football development, FEYSOC is number one. Grassroots football development is not complete without FEYSOC because FEYSOC organizes all age grade competitions where hidden talents are discovered and nurtured into stardom,” he said.
He added that FEYSOC under his watch in Niger State will bring back the lost glory of grassroots football development, saying that all age grade competitions organized by FEYSOC in the past will be resuscitated for the good of the game.
Bosso United U-14 team won the coveted Emir of Minna Emir Cup, beating Flash Arrows FC by 2-0 in the explosive high fever-pitch soccer encounter which attracted FEYSOC officials, top sports dignitaries and mammoth soccer-loving fans in the state. The third place prize went to Alheri Babes.
Trophies, medals, certificates and other prizes were also presented to winners and individual players who distinguished themselves during the memorable championship. Ace star whose great performance thrilled the cheering fans to no end, Abdulwahab Yusuf of Bosso United, was unanimously voted as the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Abdulkarim Adamu of Flash Arrows was the best goalkeeper of the tournament, while Khalid Omotunde of Bosso United was the highest goal scorer in the championship with seven goals to his credit.
FEYSOC’s Vice President, Engr. Ibrahim Dada and other state and local government FEYSOC officials witnessed the soccer artistry displayed by the young lads at the finals.
The competition was organized by FEYSOC Niger State in honour of the Emir of Minna, Alh. (Dr) Umar Faruq Bahago.