“Most of the big football names that this country has produced were first identified at the grassroots level. So, now is the time to begin the search to build a future of stars that will conquer the world in the football domain,” the former Green Eagles defender said.
Patrick Ekeji, Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), has explained that the sports regulatory body was in full support of Airtel Rising Stars, an initiative of Airtel Nigeria, because of its emphasis on developing talent from the grassroots.

According to Ekeji, himself a former Nigerian international, the goal of the Rising Stars initiative meshes with the NSC’s plan to develop grassroots sports in Nigeria, adding, “We believe that there is so much to gain when one storms and explores the grassroots.

Airtel Rising Stars is a pan-African football platform which aims to identify and develop talent from the ground level up among male and females under-17 years of age.

It will feature in eight locations across the country to enable many aspiring future stars participate.

At the launch of the programme recently in Lagos, some leading grassroots sports personalities threw their weight behind the initiative. They include Babatunde Ojulari, President of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, (YSFON), Umar Ibrahim, President of Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), and Laheem Olusegun, Secretary General of All-Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS). Collectively, they gave the assurance that their presence at the media launch was a clear endorsement of the Airtel initiative, the first of its kind to target boys and girls and give them equal opportunities.

Ojulari said the presence of football personalities at the launch was an indication of their appreciation for Airtel’s attempt to upgrade sports for the teenagers. He thanked the organisation for starting with the young ones instead of inviting foreign-based Nigerian players, adding that, “Once Airtel is through with the competition, the federal sports authorities can lay hands on the participants for further training.”

Deepak Srivastava, Airtel’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, stated his conviction that the football talent hunt would provide a structured platform for scouts, coaches, football authorities to tap into a vast pool of upcoming talent, a programme that would feed the systems for the leagues and national teams.

Fifteen of Airtel’s markets in Africa are taking part in the “Rising Stars” programme. Relevant ministries and institutions who oversee the sport in these countries as well as the local football associations will cooperate with Airtel in order to ensure that players under the age of 17, who are passionate about football, will have the chance to test their abilities in the sport. Registration forms will be available from Airtel offices across the country at a time to be announced, Srivastava said.

Girls get their chance

One of the highlights of the programme will be the participation of young girls in a competition designed especially for them. It is the first time a talent hunt programme would be designed for girls.

With more and more girls in Nigeria harbouring a desire to play the game, the Airtel programme is sure to provide greater impetus.

At present, it is estimated that around 29 million women and young girls play football around the world. Programmes like this are likely to help swell that number.

Coming at a time when the women’s game in Nigeria is at a crossroads given the lack of adequate attention from the football authorities in Nigeria, the Rising Stars programme will offer new perspectives on the way forward.

Ekeji, who expressed delight with the inclusion of a women’s competition as part of the talent hunt programme, said, “I am sure you will agree with me that if we do not start identifying, developing and nurturing the right talents for our future Falcons (as Airtel has started) it will be extremely difficult to win a trophy in the Women’s World Cup.” Nigeria has participated in all editions of the senior women’s World Cup as well as the U-20 and U-17 but has yet to win any.

Its best performance at the senior level came in 1999 when it got to the quarter-final of that edition held in the United States of America. It lost 4-3 to Brazil in match rated one of the most exciting of that tournament.

Ekeji believes that with FIFA is preparing to increase the number of participating teams in the next Women’s World Cup, from 16 teams to 24, competition will get stiffer meaning that Nigeria like other countries will have to encourage and cultivate football among the female population in the country