Uchechukwu Nnaike
With the commencement of the 2024 edition of the Greensprings Kanu Football Camp (GKFC), Greensprings School has reiterated its commitment to the development of education and sports in the country.
The annual football camp, organised by Greensprings School, in collaboration with the Kanu Heart Foundation, is designed for boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 17. It is a five-day intensive football training project, whereby the students from schools across the country also undergo mentorship from Kanu Nwankwo and some European coaches.
Now in its 10th year, the school stated that in the previous nine editions, over 2,000 children have been trained and 13 children have been granted full scholarships to study at Greensprings School.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the camp on Monday, Executive Director of the school, Mrs. Lai Koiki, said in spite of the daunting responsibility of organiging the football academy, the school still sustained the initiative because it is in line with its mission of raising a total child, as well as its dream of reaching all Nigerian children.
“Through so many different interventions, we are extending our reach,” she said.
On the impact of sports in education, Koiki said sports is about team work, learning from one another, discipline, among others, and these qualities are needed in the workplace. So there is need for the children to start learning these qualities early.
The Deputy Director of Education, Mrs. Feyisara Ojugo, called for reflection on the countless lives that have been touched and dreams that have been realised through the power of sports and education.
“We have built a legacy of excellence that will continue to inspire and empower generations to come.
“We celebrate the young talents that have been discovered through the GKFC, especially those who have had the life-changing opportunity of passing through Greensprings School as football scholars. Some have even gone on to being selected as members of the junior national team,” she said.
She lauded Kanu Nwankwo’s commitment in nurturing the next generation of football stars and thanked the international and indigenous coaches who have collaborated with the school over the years. While commending the Lagos State Football Association for its continued support and collaboration, Ojugo called for support and sponsorship from corporate bodies to enable the school to provide more opportunities for young people to discover their potential and pursue their dreams.
The Chief Strategy Officer of Greensprings School, Uche Ogbu, said that the participants will be coached by top football trainers from Europe and Nigeria and the camp’s most promising players will be awarded full academic scholarship to study at Greensprings School.
He said over the years, the impact of the football camp has been felt at the state and national level, as the European coaches have trained over 200 Lagos coaches and have gone on to impact the lives of children at the grassroots level.
“Also, five alumni of the camp have featured in the Under-17 team of Nigeria at some point, with the recent being the inclusion of Light Eke and Jubril Azeez in the 2023 squad for Under-17 AFCON,” he said.
