Siasia, Niger Delta to Partner on Amnesty Programme
Former national coach, Samson Siasia, has signed a pact with the Niger Delta Affairs on Amnesty programme for youths in the area.
The agreement sealed by the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd.) and Sia-One Sports Academy, run by the former U23 coach, entails using sports as a vehicle to eradicate unrest, violence and other social vices in the Niger Delta.
Siasia remarked yesterday that the youths of the restive region can use sports to better their lives, earn more money and realise that there is no gain in wanton destruction of pipelines and economic sabotage which of recent are the activities that define the Niger Delta.
“The talents discovered in the programme will be monitored properly and they will also participate in some overseas tournaments. Also other vocational trainings are in the programme so that the ones that cannot engage in sports will be trained in business areas that will make them useful to themselves and their families,” Siasia revealed.
He also praised the government of Kano State for encouraging the youths of the nation in exhibiting their God-given football talent through the last Ramat Cup organised by the Youths Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON).
“I want to thank the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, for single handedly sponsoring the Ramat Cup recently. I want to urge him to continue to do more for others to emulate.
“I also want to commend the YSFON President, Nasir Garwuna and the YSFON Vice President International Development, Farouk Yabo for their wonderful contributions towards the empowerment of the Nigerian youths through football,” Siasia concluded.
Meanwhile, Siasia and former Cameroon coach, Winfried Shaffer are among eight gaffers listed for the vacant Rwanda senior national team job.