Date: 2017-05-25

The Kwara Football Academy (KFA) of Ilorin has given scholarship awards to two of its players who were part of the victorious under-15 team of (ABS) Football Club.

Kale Ayo, the Kwara State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, announced this during a reception for the players, William Oni and Christopher Omomeji, by the academy on Tuesday in Ilorin.

The players were members of the club's team which recently won the NPFL/La Liga Youth League in Lagos.

Ayo said the state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, was happy with the young players' performance, describing them as worthy ambassadors of the academy.

"They should continue to combine sports with education, and I want to pledge that the state government will continue to give priority to grassroots sports development," he said.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Ayobola Samuel, said the state government has realised the potential of the academy.

"This is the reason why government has returned the academy to the ministry.

"I assure and pledge the ministry's support to all efforts to turn around the fortunes of the academy and return it to its old glory days," he added.

KFA's Administrator, Kunle Ayantola, in his welcome address, had said he was always confident of the players achieving success whenever they went out to compete.

He explained that the two players, by this development, had been awarded full scholarship for their secondary education.

"They should however continue to take their education serious as it is very important to combine both sports and education."

Ayantola assured parents that the academy would continue to develop their children to an enviable position.

One of the parents of the awardees, Shola Oni, who spoke on behalf of the parents, thanked the institution for the opportunity offered their children.

He said the parents would forever be grateful to the state government for the gesture.NAN