Sunday, September 15, 2013

ARS: Lagos agog for 16-country championship


An estimated 16 countries from the Sub-Saharan Africa are setting Lagos agog with their participation in the on-going Season 3 of the Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) which enters the inter-country championship stage last Sunday with a Gala Night in the centre of excellence.


Sources close to Airtel Nigeria, the host of the Lagos event, confirmed to DigitalSENSE Business News that no fewer than 600 teens from 16 countries across Africa were expected to participate in the week-long event, with an opening ceremony on Monday, September 16 at the Ikeja Township Stadium, Agege, Lagos.

This is coming as the
Arsenal legend and former France international, Robert Emmanuel Pires, leads a team of Arsenal technical and business staff to the African Championship of the Airtel Rising Stars which kicks off today, Monday, September 16 in Lagos.

The World Cup winner with France is expected to jet into the country on Saturday, September 21, 2013 to participate in the activities marking the finals of the championship.

DigitalSENSE Business News gathered that Mr. Pires’ visit comes under the partnership between Arsenal Football Club of England and the Airtel Africa Group.

The Legend was a key member of “The Invincibles”; the all-conquering Arsenal team that went 49 games without a loss in the 2003/2004, alongside Nigerian football legendary Kanu Nwankwo.

He had an illustrious Arsenal career and was voted the 6thgreatest player in the history of Arsenal FC during which he won three FA cups and two Premier League titles. He also won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000 with the French national team with which he was capped 79 times.

While in the country, the ex-Arsenal mid-fielder is expected to enliven the atmosphere at the finals of the Airtel Under-17 Championship and stand as an inspiration to the youngsters vying for laurels in the final games.

He is also billed to visit Oremeji Primary School 2, one of Airtel’s adopted schools in Lagos as part of its CSR initiative, Adopt-A-School programme which primarily aims to provide access to quality foundational education in remote locations of the country where standard educational facilities and quality faculties are not easily available.  

Airtel Rising Stars Africa Football Championship is Africa’s biggest Under-17 grassroots tournament and the only one with strong consideration for gender equality with the inclusion of the Female Category.


The overall winners in both male and female categories will receive the grand prize of USD 10,000, about N1.5m each.
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Pix: ARS delegates from Ghana, Niger, DRC on arrival in Lagos, weekend.

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