Kickoff (Cape Town)
20 November 2008
Nigeria President Umaru Yar'adua has praised Samson Siasia for initiating a youth football development programme through his SiaOne Soccer Academy which was officially launched at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Monday.
The President, whose speech was read by the supervising minister of Sports, Dr Alhassan Bako Zako said that, "my dear Samson your initiative is indeed timely, being timely in the sense that the (project) ties in with this administration's Seven Point Agenda.
"The concept of the Soccer Academy that has as its objective to reach out to the teeming youths in the country is commendable. Practically engaging the youths in more productive ventures like soccer, swimming, handball, and so on, is a very heart warming initiative.
"I want to congratulate you for this initiative and to assure of all appropriate support," the President assured.
He also praised the achievements of the coach so far. "Samson Siasia is a household name in soccer in our country and he is indeed associated with success both in his days as a member of the Super Eagles, as a coach of the U-20 National team and more recently as a coach to the successful Dream Team IV whose exploits in the Beijing Olympics Games is still very fresh in our mind.
The President urged Siasia not to relent in his drive to achieve his objectives so that in the end he would have left his footprints in the sand of time in Nigeria.
About N14 million was realised at the launch.
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