Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has reaffirmed his commitment to grassroots football development following the successful conclusion of the inaugural Simon Moses Foundation U-17 Boys and Girls Football Championship in Kaduna State.
Organised in partnership with the French Embassy in Nigeria, the championship attracted more than 60 teams from Kaduna North and Kaduna South, providing a platform for young footballers to showcase their talents while promoting youth empowerment and social inclusion through sport.
Speaking after the tournament at Kotoko Barracks in Kaduna, Simon said the initiative was driven by a desire to identify, nurture and create opportunities for gifted young players, describing it as a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian football.
“The inspiration behind this is to encourage young players who aspire to become professionals. We want to take some of these boys and girls off the streets and provide them with opportunities,” Simon said.
The Super Eagles forward expressed delight with the quality of talent discovered during the competition, insisting that Nigeria remains blessed with exceptional footballers who only need the right support and development to thrive.
“You can see there are so many talented players. Our main mission is to encourage these youngsters, identify the best among them and create opportunities that will help them progress.”
Simon also expressed optimism about the future of the championship and appealed to government agencies, corporate organisations and fellow professional footballers to invest in grassroots sports development.
“We expect even more in future editions, and I hope many of my colleagues will launch similar initiatives. We also need support from the government and sponsors because it is not easy to do this alone.”
He added that expanding the competition beyond Kaduna State would depend largely on increased sponsorship and institutional backing.
The boys’ competition concluded with an enthralling final between Kubarachi Football Academy and Ikon Allah Football Academy. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, Kubarachi emerged champions with a dramatic 5-4 victory in the penalty shoot-out.
Kubarachi Football Academy received a cash prize of ₦500,000, while runners-up Ikon Allah Football Academy earned ₦300,000. Earlier, Powerful Boys Academy defeated Arewa Youth Football Academy 2-0 in the third-place play-off to claim the bronze medal and a cash prize of ₦200,000.
In recognition of their impressive performances, all eight finalist teams received a pair of jerseys from the Simon Moses Foundation.
The girls’ programme featured a four-day football clinic led by Belgium-based UEFA-licensed coach Dalu Godwin, who trained participants in technical skills, tactical awareness and personal development.
The clinic concluded with an exhibition match, in which Team Orange defeated Team Blue, underlining the growing potential of women’s football in Kaduna State.
Further demonstrating the foundation’s commitment to the women’s game, Mrs Simon donated ₦500,000 to support and encourage the young female footballers participating in the programme.
The French Embassy in Nigeria also reinforced the initiative by providing each of the 36 selected female participants with footballs, boots and other sporting equipment to aid their development and encourage greater participation in the sport.
The successful staging of the inaugural Simon Moses Foundation U-17 Boys and Girls Football Championship has been widely praised as a significant boost for grassroots football in Kaduna State and an important step towards discovering and nurturing the next generation of Nigerian football stars.
