The coordinator of 1st National Renewed Hope Unity Cup, Dr Sulaiman Yahaya Kwande has tagged the competition as ‘a bold investment in Nigeria’s future,’ as it will bring together football teams from all 774 Local Government Areas of the country.
Sports247 reports that Kwande added that the forthcoming competition will be Nigeria’s largest and most inclusive grassroots sports competition, which will use football as a tool for national unity, youth empowerment, talent discovery, peace building and community development.
Kwande declared further that the tournament will provide young footballers from rural communities an opportunity to showcase their talent, with high possibilities of attracting attention from professional clubs, academies, licensed agents, national team selectors and international scouts.
He also disclosed that all participating teams will get football equipment, jerseys, boots, balls, training bibs and cones, while players, coaches and officials will benefit from welfare packages, insurance provisions and match allowances.
While also revealing that all the matches will be streamed live on digital platforms, Kwande enthused that the competition will complement the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda by investing in grassroots talents and using sports to promote inclusive national development.
Kwande expatiated, “The National Renewed Hope Unity Cup is more than a football competition. It’s a bold national investment in Nigeria’s future. The initiative will stimulate local economies through various activities.
“(It will boost) transportation, hospitality, tourism, media activities, sports marketing, merchandising and event management. All the coaches will subsequently return to their communities to train and mentor grassroots coaches, physical education teachers, academy instructors and football volunteers.”
Sports247 reports that Kwande also noted that a major legacy of the competition would be a nationwide train-the-trainer programme, under which selected coaches from each of the 774 LGAs would receive technical education, coaching certification and modern football development training.
