Peter Rufai: ARS is a Live Saving Platform

Former Super Eagles first choice goal keeper, Peter Rufai, has described the Airtel Rising Stars tournament now in its fourth year as a life saver for many young people across the country as it provides an opportunity for them to learn and to dream of moving away from their poor locales.

Rufai, who was at the official launch of the 4^th edition of ARS U-17 football championship in Lagos, said the telco has not only contributed to the development of football in Nigeria, but it has also saved many lives though the initiative.

“Airtel Rising Stars is not only about football but it is also a soul saving platform for our youths. If not for the ARS by Airtel, there are youths out there who have nothing to eat nor have hope to be involved in a programme like this. If you walk through parks and playgrounds in Lagos and other states in Nigeria you will see where these boys hang out after their training sessions.”

The former star goalkeeper noted that the programme would open doors for many beneficiaries. “A project of this nature would fish out these kids from all the corners of the country to areas where they did not dream of.”

The former Super Eagles safe hands has been selected alongside other ex-Super Eagles players such as Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal, ex-Super Falcons Stars Ann Chiejine and Olympic Gold Medalist, Chioma Ajunwa-Opara as technical advisers to ARS Season 4.

The ARS U-17 male and female tournament is a grass-root football talent search aimed at identifying and nurturing budding soccer talents from grassroots to a national level.

Registration has kicked off already and there are over 60, 000 application forms available at Airtel Express Shops across Nigeria and online platforms for interested boys and girls under the age of 17.

Regional screening and matches will hold in Lagos, Kwara, Enugu, Abuja and Port Harcourt where camps have been set up. The national finals has been scheduled to hold in Lagos, while the top 16 male and female talents selected during the national finals will represent Nigeria at the Africa Championships in Gabon later this year.