The House of Representatives Committee on Sports has endorsed the maiden Sam Okwaraji National U-16 football championship for secondary schools across the country. The committee made the pledge when they received members of the tournament’s organising committee at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Committee Chairman Hon Kabiru Amadu, alongside his Deputy Hon Mohammed Jajere and member Hon Adamu Hashimu, commended the organisers for immortalising the former Super Eagles player who died in active service for Nigeria. Amadu said he was happy the tournament was being put together by patriotic Nigerians to honour a football icon whose patriotism and sacrifice seemed to have been forgotten after his death in national colours.
He stated that as a committee tasked with ensuring sports in the country is properly positioned, they would support the tournament because of its potential to boost grassroots football development. He urged the organisers not to relent in ensuring the championship holds as planned. Earlier, the delegation leader and Secretary of the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation, Chidozie Achonwa, said they were seeking the committee’s support for the tournament, which aims to enhance grassroots football and foster unity among young participants from different states.
Achonwa, accompanied by Dr Okechukwu Duru, Stella Agu, and Chiamaka Chinaka, praised the committee for their commitment to their oversight functions and promised transparency and diligence from the tournament’s organisers. Nigeria Football Federation second Vice President, Chief Anyansi Agwu, and former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, also sent goodwill messages. The Sam Okwaraji memorial tournament is scheduled to kick off in August with zonal competitions across the six geopolitical zones. Two teams from each zone will qualify for the final round-robin stage.
