NNPC/Shell Cup: Two Top Players for Holland

Two outstanding players of the 18th edition of the annual NNPC/Shell Cup football competition organised for secondary schools in the 36 states  and the Federal Capital Territory of the country will have the opportunity of visiting Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Football Academy for further training.

The Communication Manager of Shell Petroleum, Sola Abulu, who represented the General Manager of the company, Igo Weli, made this declaration during a media briefing ahead of the semi final of the competition in Lagos yesterday.

“We are happy to announce the introduction of a new reward for the two most outstanding players in the tournament,” Abulu said. “The best two players in this year edition would be sponsored to Feyenoord Football Academy for a short further practical sessions and exposure. “Scholarship rewards will also be given to some other outstanding students while the semi final players and their coaches will be rewarded with a total cash of N3.4m while their schools get a total of N4.8m in cash for the development of facilities and infrastructure in their respective schools.”

Former Nigerian international, Mike Obiku, who was a member of the visiting Feyenoord Academy team to the country applauded NNPC/Shell for their decision to send two students to the academy.

He said some of the things lacking in most players in the country are their level of intelligence which has to do more about coaching.

Meanwhile, the semi final games will take place on Tuesday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, with FOSLA Academy, Abuja taking on Asegun Comprehensive High School, Ibadan, in the first semi final by 2pm while the second semi final between Government Science Secondary School, Bauchi and Excel Education Centre, Port Harcourt, will come up by 4pm, same day.

The final will however come up on Thursday, June 16 also at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.