National U-13 team camp closes in Akure ....Eight players picked from Ondo

The National U-13 team which is a feeder team to the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria on Wednesday officially ended its four week camping exercise in Akure.

The camping exercise was sponsored by the Ondo state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko and the aim of the exercise was to bring together players of U-13 age category and teach them the basic techniques of football. The U-13 boys defeated Ikare U-13 team 4-0, beat Links Soccer Academy Ibadan 4-0, Fountain Youth Academy Ekiti fell 4-1, Royal Soccer Academy of Akure 4-0, beat Delta state U-13 team 4-1, drew 3-3 with Odindiomo Soccer Academy Akure, Owo selected U-13 team also fell 3-1, while Kemo Babes of Ekiti were piped 1-0. A 5-1 victory over Kaduna U-13 selected side followed while Green Horse Academy Abuja also fell 10-2 to the coach Danladi Nasidi led side. The team recorded her only defeat during the camping exercise in a 1-2 loss to Niyi Dada U-15 boys from Ekiti-State.

Chief coach of the team, Danladi Nasidi advised the players to be good ambassador as they go back to resume lessons at their various schools. " You are all a testimony to the fact that Nigeria has football talents in abundance, I'm very pleased to work with you all. I now want you to go back to your different communities and be good ambassadors of this team, hoping to see you all during the next holiday camping programme." Danladi concluded.

Meanwhile, the team on Wednesday morning paid a courtesy visit to the Ondo state commissioner for Youth Development and Sports Ministry, Bekekimi Idiehare, at the state secretariat, Akure . Team secretary Wale Adeyinka, thanked the commissioner for hosting a successful camping exercise while also noting that eight U-13 players were identified and selected from Ondo state during the camping period.

While responding, the commissioner said he was delighted that youths from Ondo state have benefited from the national camping exercise and promised that Governor Olusegun Mimiko whom he described as a sport loving governor was ready to continue to support the NFF's U-13 football project. "We are happy that our state played host to the future Kanu(s), Okocha(s),and Mikel(s) of this world and above all, our sons are part of the programme, Governor Mimiko is ready to continue to support the NFF's grassroots U-13 programme."

In the same vein, the Ondo state FA chairman, Otunba Dele Ajayi, has urged the National U-13 players to shun social vices because it could derail their football carriers. The FA boss while speaking with National U-13 media officer, Bunmi Haruna in Akure, also cited the example of Gbolahan Salami of Shooting Stars football club of Ibadan whom he noted was a good player but has failed to make it to the top due to indiscipline.

"My sons, it is very important that you are disciplined if you want to make it to the top in football, players who are not disciplined don't fulfill their potentials, Don't be like Gbolahan Salami, he has been thrown out of every club he played for." The U-13/U-15 football development programme was initiated by the NFF in 2008, the team is quarterly camped and exposed to friendly matches, both local and international. In 2010, the team defeated youth teams of Liverpool 4-0, Fulham 6-0, Birmingham 4- 1, Chelsea 3-0 and Sporting Lisbon 2-0 to win the 2010 edition of the International Youth Championship organized by the English Premier League in London.

The first set of graduates of the project, who are now Under-15s, have formed the nucleus of the present National U -17 Team (Golden Eaglets).