Northwest Petroleum partners Cross River on football talent hunt

As part of it’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Northwest Petroleum, collaborating with some enthusiasts in Cross River State, has commenced grassroots football talent hunt.

Otherwise known as the Northwest Youth Soccer Tournament, the hunt is aimed at getting talented footballers from the state to feed national teams, club sides, and at the same time, curb social vices in the society.

Speaking with journalists after the final football match on Friday, the former Mayor of Calabar, Ntufam Donatus Etim, said: “We observed the lack of football tradition in Calabar and, of course, the absence of talents. Taking into consideration the composition of the present day Super Eagles, we have not had one single person from Cross River, not even on the bench in the national teams. We wonder what is happening and discovered that it is as a result of the lack of football tradition.”

Etim, who was also the Chairman of the Local organising Committee (LOC), disclosed that at the end of this year’s tournament, raw talents that could make the country proud were discovered.

He noted that some of the teams had no sponsors, yet they tried their best. He called on well-meaning Nigerians and firms to emulate the MD of Northwest Petroleum, Chief Winifred Akpani, for hosting the tournament.

Earlier, Mr. Odame David, who stood in for the MD, Northwest Petroleum and Gas Company, said plans are underway to expand the scope of the soccer fiesta in subsequent editions, given the success recorded since its inception last year.