NNPC/SHELL CUP: NFFShould Invest In Grassroot Football.

The Nigeria Football Federation has been urged to establish a solid developmental grassroot football programmes in a bid to uplift the standard of football in Nigeria and also to record success at international competitions.

Managing Director of SPDC, Mutiu Sunmonu, who made this statement while speaking with Sportsweight.blogspot.com, said the All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship tagged NNPC/SHELL Cup had become a household name and a reference point for grassroot football development and a permanent fixture in the national academic calendar.

Sunmonu, who noted that one of the products of the competition, Ejike Uzoenyi, was in the Super Eagles squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in South Africa, adding that the tournament would continue to be a major plank in Nigeria's quest for international football honours.

Technical Assistant to the Group Managing Director, Ben Akaabar, who represented the Group Managing Director, Andrew Yakubu, said the competition had created an opportunity for the pupils to showcase their talents as some of them have gone to play for the national teams and foreign clubs.

He said this year's edition present another opportunity for showcasing representative array of young talents that abound in the Secondary Schools across the nation, adding that the pupils participating in the tournament could attain academic excellence while pursuing their passion for sports.

 "During preliminaries, participating pupils in secondary schools across Nigeria had shown competitive spirit, determination and high level of discipline.These are invaluable qualities needed by these leaders of tomorrow in their future endeavors.