Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports have promised to support the maiden Sam Okwaraji National U-16 football championship for secondary schools in the country.

The competition is in honour of the Late Sam Okwaraji, who died on the pitch in 1989 while playing for Nigeria against Angola, in a World Cup qualifier.

The committee made the pledge recently when it received members of the organising committee of the championship at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Welcoming the delegation, the chairman of the committee, Kabiru Amadu, in company of his deputy, Mohammed Buba Jajere and a member of the committee, Adamu Hashimu, commended them for taking the initiative of immortalising the former Super Eagles player who died in active service for the country.

They promised to support the organisers in ensuring a seamless competition.

“I’m happy that this tournament is being put together by some patriotic Nigerians to honour a football icon whose patriotism and sacrifice seems to have been forgotten after his demise in the colours of the country more than 30 years ago.

“As a committee whose mandate includes ensuring that the country’s sports is well positioned, we’ll support the tournament because it will help in grassroots football development in the country. I urge you not to relent in ensuring that the championship holds as scheduled,” Amadu stated.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Chidozie Achonwa, who also doubles as the secretary of the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation, said that they were in the NASS Chambers to seek the committee’s moral and financial support for the tournament, which, he said, will not only help in grassroots football development, but also build good relationships among the participants from various states of the federation.

Achonwa, who was accompanied on the visit by Dr Okechukwu Duru, Stella Agu, and Chiamaka Chinaka, commended the committee for its diligence in its oversighting functions and ensuring that the country’s sports sector is well positioned, even as he promised transparency on the part of the organisers.

Goodwill messages were also sent by the second Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chief Anyansi Agwu and former Super Eagles Coach Samson Siasia.

The Sam Okwaraji Memorial Tournament will kick off in August with competitions in all the six geopolitical zones of the country, from where two teams each will qualify for the national competition.

The highlight of the visit was the presentation of the competition’s giant trophy to the House Committee members.