With the dwindling fortunes of the country in sports, football inclusive, Tony Oritse Pemu.  the CEO of Hideaplux Limited, a Sport marketing, Event and Brand development company has teamed up with the Delta State Ministry Basic of Education to re-introduce the Principal’s Cup in the state. Pemu, a multi talented person, entrepreneur, farmer, facility manager and   also the Head Pastor of Charity Christian Centre, Warri in this interview, speaks on the benefits of the competition for Delta youths among other things.

What is Delta State Principal’s Cup competition all about?

Delta Principal’s Cup, is a junior tier football championship for all public secondary schools in Delta State. It’s one of   the taking sports back to school project   of   Delta State Ministry of Basic Education, but management right of   Hidea Plux Limited, a   company committed   to the development of the youths through the promotion of   sports and mentor-ship, empowerment   and community social empowerment programmes. The championship is set to achieve among others but limited to the following:

To create oneness and foster brotherly bond among the Delta state youths,through sports and  to discover our young talents and stars from their prime years. It was also created   to create a long career presence in their football life, to take sports back to schools,   squeeze down societal vices and homeland crimes which is often inspired by high idle time. Before now the competition in the state has always been a one of event that comes and goes without standard. But now the face of school sports in Delta state under the new commissioner for education is taking a new dimension. Going by what we went through to get the property right, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, the Honourable commissioner for Basic education is redefining that sector in the state.

•Oritse-Pemu.

What inspired your interest in sport marketing and management?

As a Pastor that has passion and is interested in the destiny realization and empowerment of the youth, I counsel them a lot and from my interaction with them, I discovered that a lot of them need a mind reset to follow their destiny through their talent. I was also able to identify the fact that our young people with great sporting talent no longer have a platform to showcase and grow their talent. As a result, these young people now channel their energy into social vices like cultism and truancy, amongst others.

So we thought of tackling such negative trend by narrowing it down to an environment where you have a lot of the youth at their emerging stages in life, so we picked the schools. That is one of our driving force to reviving Delta schools sports, so that those of them who have football skill can harness their abilities and be given an opportunity to express themselves.

As someone who is passionate about youth development, I discovered that sports especially football have become a veritable tool to attracting young people.

What is the scope of the forth-coming champio-nship?

Delta State has about 1,600 government secondary schools and government approved private secondary schools spread across the 25 local government areas and this competition is open to all of them. This maiden edition participation is only for the male students, hopefully we shall include females in subsequent editions

What are the criteria  and reward for selection?

You must be a bonafide student of the school you represent. You mustn’t be above sixteen years as at kick-off of the competition. Your grade must be above average.

The prizes are yet to be decided but they are worth their trouble, but they should expect cash prizes, other consolation prizes, medals and certificate of participation.

What is your bigger picture for the competition in three years time?

Delta Principal’s Cup has been conceptualized to be the most prestigious competitive state   secondary football tournament in Nigeria and Africa overtime. Our dream is to grow it to be the best so that international sports marketers will come for talent hunts during the competitions. Delta State is state blessed with diversity of talents. So I believe this will be one of the avenues to showcase this talents for their discoveries. My joy will be full when I see on the television, some of my players, stars of notable international club sides. I will be happy and grateful to God. I want to see the competition bringing out national champions to represent Nigeria at international schools competitions. We have also concluded the registration process of Delta Principal’s Cup with the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation. This will not only give the championship recognition   and credibility, the federation will also help in the sponsorship drive and will also give the championship access to any international school sports championship in any part of the world.

What’s your advice to the participants?

Youths should not allow themselves to be used as mercenaries to play thereby depriving qualified people the chance to be part of the competition. Participants should work hard because the national and international football clubs will be on ground to scout for talents. Lastly, I advise them to embrace Jesus, who is the best model of success. I make bold to say that you cannot have Jesus and fail, it’s not possible.