Get Guardian on Google.As Onazi charges beneficiaries on discipline
The Mainbolw of National Stadium, Surulere, came alive on Tuesday, as CitySports Africa unveiled its inaugural 1000 Boot Project amid pomp and pageantry.
The event venue was a beehive of activities from 4:00 am as staff of the company work around the clock to ensure that all is set for the much-awaited One Child One Boot initiative. The event got underway after a long screening conducted on a first-come, serve basis as 1000 would-be beneficiaries took their seats in the main bowl.
Partners like TotalEnergie, Union Bank, Adidas and Coollink made their presence known while
Bank of Industry (BOI) was not left out as CitySport Chief Executive Officer, Shola Opaleye, presented awards to partners before the main event started.
Bank of Industry (BOI) was not left out as CitySport Chief Executive Officer, Shola Opaleye, presented awards to partners before the main event started.
”We want to first of all thank all our partners who rallied behind us to make this dream a reality. TotalEnergies expressed the desire to be part of the 1000 Boots vision just after a few minutes of discussion. Thanks to Union Bank for their financial support. We also want to Coollink too for backing this cause. Thank you, Adidas, for giving boots, because I really don’t know where I would have gotten 1000 boots from
”To Bank of Industry, I want to say thank you for all your support. Bank of Industry have always been there right from the start,” he said.
Opaleye showered encomium on its sponsors for the age-long support toward CitySports Africa’s cause. He urged the aspiring young footballer to borrow a leaf from Saido Mane, who started playing barefoot in Bambali, Senegal, but grabbed his opportunity with both hands when a scout came calling.
Opaleye urged the kids to resist the temptation of selling their boots for peanuts but to work hard to achieve their dream of becoming a professional footballer.
” This is the day we’ve all been waiting for. The 1000 Boots Project is one of several strategic initiatives aligned with the CitySports Foundation’s mission to empower one million African youth annually through sports, leadership programs, community interventions, and opportunities for global exposure.
”This is just the beginning, we are going to get better by the grace og God.
”I’d like to appeal to you not to sell your booth, because your future dream is attached to this day. People have asked me what is next after giving out the boots, but I told them that CitySports Africa is here to help the kids launch their careers. So, we are appealing to you to join us, and we will be ready to help you achieve your dream of becoming a professional footballer.
We are not forcing it on you, but we are appealing because we have CitySports academy products who now play in the Arsenal academy. One of our products was part of the Nigerian female national team. We are willing to help you go further in your career,” Opaleye said.
In his words, former Super Eagles and Lazio midfield enforcer, Ogenyi Onazi, charged young and upcoming footballers to see the 1000 Boots Project as an opportunity to launch their career, while urging them to embrace hard work and discipline if they hope to make a significant impact in the sport.
The former Trabzonspor midfielder described the 1000 Boots Project as a laudable initiative that will go a long way to reshape the lives of upcoming talents who cannot afford to purchase football boots. Onazi also urged the children to identify with CitySports’s different talent hunt programmes, which, according to him, have changed the lives of several children in the country.
”know how it feels for you to wait patiently to get your first boots. This laudable initiative is a big opportunity for you to launch your destiny and play football with boots from Adidas. Do not see these initiatives as another opportunity to get a gift; rather, you should all see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to relaunch your career.
”I want to appeal to be hardworking and disciplined because only that can you become the next Super Eagles. I wish you all the best in all your endeavours as you go home with your boots courtesy of CitySports Africa,” he told the young footballers.
Guests and 1000 Boots beneficiaries were offered a free meal at the end of the hitch-free event as CitySports CEO expressed his resolve to ensure other young footballers in all nooks and crannies of the country enjoy similar gestures in the near future.
