Ado Salisu
Former Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, MON, has pledged N1.8 million in personal cash rewards for the top three teams at the ongoing Milo U-13 Soccer Tournament in Kano State.
The final of the championship is scheduled to take place on Thursday at the Ahmed Musa Sports Area in Kano.
Musa, who is also a Milo Ambassador, announced that he would personally reward the winners with N1 million, while the runners-up will receive N500,000 and the third-place team N300,000.
The tournament’s sponsor, Nestlé Milo, had earlier earmarked N500,000 for the winners, N300,000 for the runners-up and N200,000 for the third-place team.
Speaking ahead of the final, Musa, who is also a former General Manager and player of Kano Pillars Football Club, said his decision to partner with the tournament was aimed at supporting the revival of school sports competitions and strengthening grassroots sports development.
He said greater involvement of corporate organisations in sponsoring sporting competitions, particularly at the grassroots, would help identify and nurture young talents for future national and international engagements.
“God has blessed Nigeria with abundant, skilful and talented players who need encouragement and support to project the image of the country,” Musa said.
The former Super Eagles captain commended Nestlé Milo for its continued commitment to youth sports development and called on other corporate organisations to emulate the company by investing in grassroots sporting programmes.
Sixteen football teams participated in the championship, with the top three teams expected to receive prizes at the end of the competition. Other participating teams may also receive recognition and prizes during the closing ceremony.
Dignitaries expected at the final include Milo Category Manager, Gilbert Teenaboah Koduah, and the company’s Sports Marketing Manager, Mrs Funmilola Oyewole, among others.