GTBank Lagos Principals Cup is about leading kids aright, says Akinwunmi

• As draw for Season Eight group stage is unveiled

The First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, has commended Guaranty Trust Banks (GTBank Plc) for the things it is doing with kids in Lagos in the last eight years of schools’ football competition.

At the Season Eight draw held in Lagos to kick start this year’s Lagos State Principals Cup, the boys’ defending champion, Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege was grouped alongside Ogunmodede College, Epe; Badore Comprehensive Senior High School and Jubilee Model Senior Grammar School, Surulere complete the Group D.

Former champion, Keke High School, Ijaiye, will square up with Ajeromi Ifelodun Senior High School, Ajegunle; Muslim Senior College, Oworonsoki and Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior Grammar School, Ojokoro in Group A.

Ejigbo Senior Secondary School; Methodist Senior High School, Badagry; Odogunyan Senior Grammar School, Ikorodu and Ikotun Senior High School are in Group B.While in Group C, are Birrel Avenue Senior High School, Yaba; Estate Senior Grammar School, Mushin; Agidingbi Senior Grammar School, Ikeja and Gbaja Boys Senior School, Surulere.

In the girls’ cadre, Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu; Ilado Community Senior High School, Ikoyi; Lekki Community Senior High School and Sanya Senior Grammar School, Surulere are in Group A, while Isale Eko Grammar School, Lagos Island; Jubilee Model Senior Grammar School, Surulere; Ilupeju Senior Secondary School, Mushin and Government Senior College, Agege are in Group B.

Defending champion, Ikotun Senior High School, Ikotun will trade tackle with Ikorodu Senior High School, Ikorodu; Ijaye Housing Estate Senior Grammar School, Ijaye, Ojokoro and Tin Can Island in Group C. As CMS Girls Senior Secondary School; Euba Senior Secondary School, Mushin; Ayedere Ajibola Senior High School, Ketu, Ikorodu and Methodist Senior High School, Badagry complete Group D.

Speaking at the occasion, Akinwunmi said that the competition for the kids was not only about opportunity to play football, but also for them to acquire something that will be useful to them later in life.

“It is almost unbelievable that we have come this far…Football is not an alternative but it compliments your education,” he said.According to the Group Head, Communications and External Affairs, Oyinade Adegite, the GTBank Lagos Principals Cup has been eight seasons of competition.

“The competition is all about bringing in your best, about staying in school. It is a whole concept of sportsmanship, where you win some, you lose some. I am very happy with the attraction the competition has gained and we look forward to it,” she said.