Sports
Rising Stars Football League Unveils 11 Million Naira Incentive to Empower Grassroots Football, Community Development in Abuja
The Project Manager of the Rising Stars Football League (RSFL), Ifeanyi Khana, has shed light on the mission and structure of the competition, which is to be held in Abuja.
The RSFL, a unique football league comprising teams from the six area councils of Abuja, is designed to provide opportunities for young, grassroots talent to develop and showcase their skills on a larger platform.
According to Ifeanyi, the qualifying process for the RSFL was conducted within the area councils, where teams emerged successfully. Each qualifying team received 25,000 Naira, along with footballs and sets of jerseys, to encourage participation and ensure they are well-equipped for the competition.
“The Rising Stars Football League is more than just a football tournament,” said Ifeanyi. “It’s a community-driven initiative aimed at empowering the youth by providing them with a platform to excel. We want to encourage grassroots teams and give them the exposure they need to develop and showcase their talents.”
The league not only provides exposure but also offers financial incentives to the participating teams and players. Players from the 12 teams receive match bonuses and appearance fees, with a winning bonus of 50,000 Naira and a match appearance fee of 20,000 Naira.
The prize for the top teams is one million Naira, which qualifies them for the “Super 4” competition. A total of 11 million Naira is up for grabs in the Super 4, with 5 million Naira allocated for community development. This fund will support community engagement activities, including visits to orphanages, hospitals, schools, and other places in need.
Ifeanyi emphasized the dual focus of the league, which aims to foster both sports development and community growth. “We believe that sports can play a critical role in community development,” he stated. “By investing in grassroots football, we are not only nurturing future sports stars but also promoting a sense of unity and responsibility among the youth. They learn the value of teamwork, discipline, and giving back to their communities.”
He continued, “Our goal is to create a sustainable model where sports serve as a catalyst for positive change. When young players see that their success on the field can translate into meaningful contributions to their communities, it motivates them to work harder and stay committed. This, in turn, drives the overall development of sports in the country.”
Ifeanyi also highlighted the broader impact of the RSFL on sports development in Nigeria. “Initiatives like the RSFL are essential for the growth of sports in our country. By focusing on grassroots talent, we are building a strong foundation for the future of Nigerian sports. These young players represent the next generation of athletes who will make Nigeria proud on the global stage.”
“We are committed to promoting community development alongside developing football talents,” Khana added. “Our goal is to provide a platform where young players can be scouted while also giving back to their communities. We believe in holistic growth, where sports serve as a bridge to community development.”
He also emphasized the importance of partnerships in achieving the league’s goals. “We are open to collaborations with ex-internationals, media, corporations, and other well-wishers who share our vision. We’ve already provided school fees and other resources to aid communities, and we look forward to expanding these efforts.”
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
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