GTBank Principals Cup Semi Finals All Set
Road to the Finals for principals Cup

The semi-final matches of the GTBank-Lagos State Principals Cup competition holds on Wednesday and Thursday 30th April at Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island.
This is the first time Birrel Avenue Senior High School, Sabo will be playing at the GTBank-Lagos State Principals Cup semi-final and it has not been easy. Like every other team, they have strived hard to remain in the competition.

According to the games master, Mr. Akinyele the major challenge has been getting the right team selection that meet the stipulated requirements and team’s training schedule. After their victory in the quarterfinals, the team is excited to be playing at the semi-finals and they are hopeful that they will be victorious.

Looking forward to the semi-final fixture, he said special provision is being put in place for the players and proper psychology is needed for the team to give their all on the field of play.

Another new face at the semi-finals is Ifako Comprehensive Senior High School, Gbagada. They defeated defending champions, Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege to earn their spot in the last four.

The games master of Ifako Comprehensive, Mr. Famakinwa said it is a spectacular feeling to get to this stage of the competition and he is very sure that his team will imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship when they face 2012 champions’ Keke High School, Agege in the semi-finals. Speaking on the task ahead, he said both teams have equal opportunity but advised his boys to maintain a high fitness level which can be achieved through adequate training if they want to have the edge.

Birrel Avenue Senior High School will play Ikorodu Senior Grammar School while Ifako Comprehensive Senior High School will face Keke High School at the GT-Lagos State Principals Cup Semi-Finals.

Guaranty Trust Bank plc is one of the few Nigerian financial institutions that have maintained a defined Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy since its inception in 1990 and actively supports numerous programmes in Education.


http://www.gtbank.com/csr/football/

[size=28pt]All Set for GTBank Principals Cup finals and Rise of Youth Soccer [/size]

Youth soccer development in Nigeria is set to rise as the stage is all set for the most anticipated finals of the 2015 Principals cup kicks off at Teslim Balogun Stadium on Wednesday in Lagos.

GTBank has also restated its commitment to investing in grassroots and youth soccer development, as a vital step in helping Nigeria emerge a global power house in soccer.

Speaking in the run up to the finals, Lola Odedina, the GTBank Communications General Manager noted that Nigeria cannot emerge a global soccer giant by wishful thinking. "It requires concerted efforts, long range planning, continuous investment and most importantly talent identification and development at the youth level. The need to catch them young and train them well has never been greater.

"It has been a wonderful season this year. Every year we try to build on the success of the previous year. We are pleased with the outcome of the tournament so far and we are optimistic that the talents that will emerge from the Principals Cup will enlarge the pool of potential of players that will not only emerge national players but global and disciplined soccer stars. "

The 6th season of the prestigious secondary school tournament is an annual football competition geared towards the development of grass roots football, the discovery of young football talents and fostering camaraderie amongst secondary students. It also provides a platform for identifying, nurturing, grooming young and talented players as well as helping students actualize their dream of becoming professional footballers.

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The road to the finals was filled with thrills and challenges. In the female category, Ikotun Senior College girls overpowered the Government Senior College by 3-1. The super captain Salisu Anu single handedly did all the damage with superb hat trick that led the whole stadium shouting her name. She also emerged the as Most Valuable Player of the match.

In the male fixture between: Keke High School, Ijaye vs. Ifako comprehensive high school, Keke boys ran away with lone goal that saw them through to the final. Now Teslim Balogun, Surulere awaits the final in both Male and Female category of this year GTBank Principal cup as: (Birrel Avenue face Keke Senior School( Boys) while in the female category, Ikotun Senior Sec School will challenge Oriwu Senior Model to a thrilling final.

In supporting and appreciating their task at the finals, the winning male and female teams will go home with N1,000,000 each while the 1st, 2nd, 3rd runners up will receive, N750,000, N500,000 and N250,000 respectively. As a tradition, GTBANK will also upgrade the existing sports infrastructure in all participant school which will help further promote overall sports development. .

This grass root development career development in the country shows Guaranty Trust Bank PLC is one of the few Nigerian financial institutions that that have maintained a defined corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy since it's inception in 1990. The bank actively supports numerous programmes across Africa that positively affects child health-care, education, the Art, community development and environment sustainability.

Join us at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere for the finals of the GTBank Principals Cup from 11 am; with his excellency Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, Mr. Segun Agbaje, MD/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Dr. Phil Osagie, Partner/Global Strategist of JSP Corporate Communications Limited, yours sincerely Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, CEO, International Digital Post Network Limited and Publisher/Editor of Nigerians Report Online, TALK OF THE TOWN By Orikinla and other publications among other special guests who will watch the finals.