By Akintunde Akinsemola
The top five Under-17 teams of Nigeria’s leading clubs will light up Benin from February 24 to the 2nd of March to decide who lifts the maiden edition of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Youth League silverware.
Nigerian football prides itself on its youth system hence Nigeria Football Federation’s decision to throw its weight behind the NPFL Youth League for more successes.
NPFL chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye has been quick to urge the youngsters involved to emulate current Super Eagles like Samuel Chukwueze and Stanley Nwabali who once played in the local league.
“You must learn from our international stars who are doing well for their clubs. All you need is to be focused. We have seen all of you at the zones so, those of you playing in the playoff, do well by showing yourself to the world.”
Virtually all NPFL clubs presented teams at various zones culminating in the qualification of Remo Stars (South-West), Rangers (South-East), Rivers United (South-South), Plateau United and Katsina United.
Rivers United who were consistent with two goals in each of their three games in Port Harcourt zone will get the playoff underway at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium with a faceoff against high-scoring Remo Stars, from 2pm.
The youngsters from Rivers State drew their first tie in the preliminaries against Bendel Insurance but came back stronger with wins over Bayelsa United and Akwa United.
For Remo Stars, they will rely on their potent attack which accounted for 9 goals in 3 games.
Also on the same day (4pm), Katsina United who shut out Doma, Gombe United and Kano Pillars in Kaduna zone will lock horns with Plateau United of Jos.
Rangers will have to wait till Monday, the 26th to get their campaign underway, against Katsina United.
In a round-robin format, each club will play four games in barely a week to determine the national champions.
Underlining the importance of the competition, chairman of NPFL Youth League, Emeka Inyama believes it would create a synergy between grassroots and professional football.
“NPFL Youth League has been created to create combined efforts between grassroots football and professional football and to create between youth football as well as those who will step into the main NPFL.”
The competition is the first of its kind in Nigeria’s football history.