Some former Super Eagles players are in Benin to encourage and provide mentorship to players of the clubs participating in the maiden NPFL Youth League Championship Finals.
At a brief unveiling ceremony at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, during the opening ceremony of the finals on Sunday, Chairman of the NPFL, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, said the idea of the mentorship is to provide professional role models who would deploy their experience to nurture the young talents to stardom.
The Mentors who have been named the NPFL Youth League Ambassadors are Ex Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough star, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Ex Wolvehampton Wanderers of England midfielder Seyi Olofinjana, former Super Eagles captain, Austin Eguavoen and former Super Eagles player, Patrick Pascal.
Elegbeleye tasked the quartet to use their influence in the round leader game to help discover, nurture, and mentor the next generation of Stars at the youth league.
Eguavoen, who is Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), commended the NPFL for the Youth League initiative and pledged on behalf of the others to adopt the young players as their personal project.
Aiyevbeni expressed delight at the quality of talents he saw in the opening day’s fixtures and declared that “some of the players we have seen on the first day have all the requirements to make it on the big stage”.
For Olofinjana, the players need professional guidance to reach their full potential.
He said, “All I can say is that there are potentials in these kids. The skill and mindset are top notch, and if they don’t put themselves under any tension, they have a good chance to play international football. “
Pastor Emeka Inyama, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, also lauded the ex-internationals for accepting to work with the NPFL to raise the next generation of Super Eagles players.
“It is noteworthy that you have left your private business engagements to answer this call to serve. It is a demonstration of your readiness to reproduce yourselves for Nigeria, and this is very commendable, “Inyama remarked.
Rivers United defeated Remo Stars 3-1 in the opening game while Plateau United edged Katsina United 2-1 in the second game of the day. Rangers International Youth team, the fifth side in the championship, had an off day.