Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, says the Nigerian Navy‘s commitment to its partnership with Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) is for the development of sports in Nigeria.
Admiral Gambo spoke on Saturday at the closing ceremony of the 18th edition of the CNS U-14 boys and 10th edition of NOWA U-17 girls’ soccer tournaments at the Old Parade Ground Sports Complex, Abuja.
The CNS noted that the partnership of the Nigerian Navy with YSFON, which started 22 years ago, was born out of strong conviction that it would help provide the needed avenue for youths to realize their enormous potentials that abounds especially at the grassroots.
This partnership, he said, led to the establishment of NAVY/YSFON Football Academy located in Calabar.
The CNS added that the tournament has become a competition of note where notable players have been discovered and nurtured to stardom one of which is the Super Eagles and Leicester City FC striker Kelechi Iheanacho.
Admiral Gambo further stated that one of the ways to maintain an active, vibrant and potent youth population is to encourage participation in sporting activities.
Therefore, supporting the staging of the tournament will continue to boost government’s efforts at eradicating criminality among youth,s as the youth constitute a critical part of any group of people.
Tournaments of this nature, Admiral Gambo said, would provide the youths with opportunities to channel their energies towards productive ventures.
The CNS commended the organizing committee, coaches and media for contributing to the success of the competition.
The tournaments which were keenly contested by teams from various states of the federation saw Team Ekiti and Cross River winning the male and female categories respectively.