The Main Organising Committee of the National Principals Cup has announced that the revived National competition earlier scheduled to kick off on February 12 will now start from February 26.

The secondary school showpiece will be heralded with an opening ceremony and match between Government College Kaduna and Igbobi College, Lagos at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

According to the Director of Grassroots Sports in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Dr Ademola Are, the postponement became necessary in order to sort out a few logistics and to ensure a hitch free competition.

The revival of the Principals Cup is one of the cardinal programmes of the Minister of Youth and sports Development Mr Sunday Dare aimed at the re-invigoration of schools and grassroots sports development, enhance talent discovery and grooming of young talents in the country.

Unlike in the past when only footbal was featured, table tennis, Badminton, Atheletics, Boxing and Volleyball would be competed for among the schools.

The competition has received high profile endorsement from the Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11 who has instituted an award for the Most Valuable Player.

The Ooni who participated in the Headmasters and Principals Cup while in primary and secondary school commended the Honourable Minister Mr. Dare for the initiative which he believes would cement national unity and forge friendship among youths across the nation.

Signed

Media office of the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development

The revival of the Principal’s Cup which had lots of glamour in the 80s and 90s would bring about the discovery of fresh talents.
Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare reiterated that the Ministry revived the Principal’s cup in order to discover and nurture new talents .

According to the Minister ” The National Principals Cup is back, one of the bedrock of grassroots sports development. The likes of Segun Odegbami, Henry Nwosu, Late Stephen Keshi, Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba , Joseph Dosu, Tajudeen Disu, Ganiyu Ajide , among others were all products of the Principal’s cup and they all donned the green white green national jersey.

The fact that we can discover young talents from secondary schools and nurture them to stardom made us focus on reviving the competition ”.. the Minister affirmed.

He further said “The Principal’s cup is kicking off soon across the Federation because talents abound everywhere. The organizing Committe need to pay attention to details and as much possible scout for talents that will be useful to the country.”

“The Principal cup is not restricted to only football but other sports like Boxing , Badminton, table tennis , and athletics. This is to ensure that the competition stands the test of time with sustainable improvements.”…. he further asserted.

Mr. Dare concluded by saying “The Youth are critical to sporting activities, so they must be discovered and nurtured early”

Signed

Media office of the Minister of Youths and Sports Development

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has thrown his weight behind the revival of the National Principals Cup competition, saying it is a national asset for building the character of future leaders and uniting the nation.

Revealing that he played in both the Headmasters and Principals cup in his primary and secondary school days, he declared that the experience contributed to making him what he is today.

The Ooni gave his commitment to the success of the ongoing revival of the event in Ile Ife on Monday when a delegation of the Organising Committee led by Dr Ademola Are, Director of Grassroots Sports at the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development paid him a courtesy call to seek his royal blessings.

“The reason why I am excited today is that I played in the Headmasters Cup and I played in the Principals Cup. They are the greatest assets to cultivate the subconscious nature or mind of the average Nigerian youth. It is very important that you are bringing the Principals Cup back. It will solve idleness, it will solve youth employment. It will provide opportunity for a lot of people to display their talent. I am a living testimony.

“The Principals Cup was one of the greatest programmes organise by the Federal Government. It goes round every corner. The dedication and commitment from all corners was a lot. That time there was very few crime rate because you are preparing the mind of the youths to be responsible. Football is all about responsibility. You must be responsible with the ball you are holding and careful not to lose it to the opponent. So, psychologically, you are preparing future generations that must be responsible.

“It takes care of the children from ages 12 to 17 many of whom today do not know that there is a programme that brings them together. Let us use this programme to unite our nation and I really commend the ministry led by Sunday Dare for the initiative. He is very active very energetic. He wants to turn things around in a twinkle of an eye and I am very appreciative of all the things he is trying to put in place.”

The Ooni urged the organisers to remain focused assuring them that with good organisation sponsors will be magnetically attracted to support the event.

Earlier, Dr Are informed the Ooni that though the Principals Cup is traditionally a football event, the Minister of Sports has considered it necessary to include other sports including boxing, badminton, athletics, swimming and table tennis so as to provide opportunity for youths who are talented in other sports.

Also speaking at the occasion, Pastor Tony Pemu, the Managing Director of Hideaplus, the consultancy firm for the event, informed the Ooni that the award of the Most Valuable Player of the Principals Cup has been instituted in his name.

Present at the occasion were Dr Rafiu Ladipo of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Fred Edoreh, former chairman of the Lagos chapter of the Sports Writers Association and media consultant for the event, Toyosi Oyetunji, Digital Marketing and Communications consultant amongst others.