By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Foremost African financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank), has announced the commencement of Season 8 of the GTBank Principals’ Cup.
For the past 7 years, GTBank has continued to promote grassroots football through the organization of the prestigious Principals Cup competition, which is one of the largest grassroots competition in Africa.
The GTBank sponsored tournament, which is aimed at actively engaging secondary schools students through sports whilst promoting the values of excellence and fair play, provides a platform for identifying, nurturing, grooming young and talented players and also helping students work towards their dream of being world class footballers.
Season 7 of the Principals Cup produced an exhilarating encounter with over 360 teams competing to be the ultimate champions of the prestigious tournament.
In the boys’ category, Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School completed a hat-trick of championships (after winning in 2012 & 2014) and became the first team to permanently retain the trophy while Ikotun Senior High School held unto the Cup in the Girls’ category.
About 370 schools comprising of girls and boys from various secondary schools in Lagos State will compete in the 2017 edition (Season 8) of the cup’s competition.
Commenting on the tournament, the Managing Director of GTBank, Mr Segun Agbaje, stated that, “Over the years, this tournament has helped participating students work towards actualizing their dream of becoming professional footballers and some of them are already making a career out of football.”
He further stated that “at GTBank, we will continue to invest massively in youth development through education and sport in order to help more youths actualize their personal confidence and make them become better team players.
Over the years, GTBank Principals Cup has launched the professional careers of several talented players.
In 2005, Yetunde Fajobi joined the Nigeria U17 Female Team-The Flamingos-having played in the 2014 edition, where she powered her school, Government Secondary School Agege to Victory and emerged the most valuable player of the 2014 Season.
Also, 2012 MVP, Stephen Odey also joined MFM FC in the Nigerian Professional League in 2016, and now in his second season, he scored the first hat-trick in the season and is currently the highest goal scorer.
GTBank, a youth oriented brand, maintains the lead in providing support for education and sport to enable young boys and girls explore their talents and reach for their dreams.
It is one of the few Nigerian financial institutions that have maintained a defined Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, most especially in sports education.
The bank actively supports in-classroom and out=-of-classroom educational programmes, infrastructure development, students’ scholarship and teachers training across Africa.
Dipo Olowookere