By Sedara Oluwadara
•Says He is a product Grassroots Football and will always show his support.
Paschal Karibe Ojigwe has become the latest ex-Super Eagles player to declare his support for Grassroots Sports Federation and the NDDC-U17 Peace Cup 2022 billed to hold in Delta State early December.
The Japan 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner with Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets who is currently the Commissioner for Sports, Abia State, Ojigwe, 45, says one of the reasons who contested the election to the Executive Board of the NFF, was to bring work hard towards ensuring that grassroots football development takes centre stage in Nigeria as it use to be.
“I’m a product of grassroots football”, starts the former Super Eagles defensive midfielder who won bronze with the national team at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations in Mali, apparently referring to those days he played football at Okigwe Road Primary School, Aba.
“So I’m happy that there’s an organization like this going around every corner of Nigeria to discover raw talents, If I had won the NFF board member election, I would’ve work hard to give the youths the opportunity to benefit from the programs through which I was discovered before gaining global attention.“Call it giving back to the society and you are not far away from the fact”, Ojigwe declared.
“Am happy with what you people at Grasof are doing and am happy to be part of this great movement to bring our grassroots footballers to limelight again.
“I also want to thank the NDDC for being the sole sponsor of this wonderful program as this will make other ministries to step up their support in grassroots programs and sports in general
”While thanking the Ex-Super Eagles player and now commissioner of Sports Abia State, the president of Grasof Hon John Ekpeyong promised that this year’s competition will be better than last year’s edition.
“I thank you for having the time to welcome us here in your office today, not everytime we get to meet with busy people like you but here we are today receiving your blessings and endorsement for this year’s competition.
On behalf of GRASOF family, I say thank you and we promise that we are going to have a better and bigger tournament this year in Delta than we had last year in Akwa Ibom.
”The NDDC-U17 Peace Cup 2022 will start second week of December with teams expected to arrive on the 10th while screening of players will take place on the 11th and the competition kick off will be on the 12th.
The competition is expected to last until 18th of December in Asaba Delta State.
