Former Super Eagles captain and goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, has urged the governments at all levels to sponsor young players especially from schools to watch the Milo Africa U-13 Football Championship in Lagos to build confidence in grassroots football and enable the sport thrive in their states.

He predicted that the Championship will produce future champions for the respective countries that are participating in the tournament scheduled to hold at the Campos Square Stadium on Lagos Island.

“Government needs to not only provide the facility but will also need to create the enabling environment by exposing young ones to experience such international tournaments as the Milo Africa U-13 Championship first hand.

The experience will be an inspirational touch-point for these kids, not just those playing but also those who are brought to watch the participants” posited Rufai who has been involved in football talent hunt programs.

Peter Rufai

The 3rd Nestle Milo U-13 African Championship will hold in Lagos from May 29-31. St. Barnabas LGEA, Kwara State will fly Nigeria’s flag with Ghana, Kenya and South African all expected to participate.  The Nigerian team has been training at the Kwara State Football Academy under Coach Paul Adams Odey.

Rufai, who captained Nigeria to the 1998 World Cup in France, commended Nestle Nigeria Plc for sponsoring the championship which he said will produce future champions for the respective countries that will participate.

“There is need for the government and corporate organisations to support and focus attention on football at the grassroots as Nestle Plc is doing with the Milo U-13 Championship and other youth talent programs in Basketball and Tennis”, canvassed Rufai, fondly called Dodo Mayana.

The biennial football event was first hosted by South Africa in 2010 and saw Nigeria’s representative Ashegun school, Oyo State lifting the trophy.  In 2012, Ghana hosted and won while Nigeria was represented by St. Stephens School, Lagos.