THE Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), which organises the annual NNPC/Shell Cup All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship, has released new dates for the states finals of the championship across the nation.According to a statement made available to The Guardian yesterday and signed by the NSSF Secretary General, Olabisi Joseph, the adjustment in dates became necessary as most schools are just resuming after the industrial strike occasioned by the Federal Government's removal of fuel subsidy.'Following the nationwide strike on the removal of fuel subsidy and the subsequent delay in schools resumption, we wish to inform you that the date for the All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship - Shell Cup - has been changed,' the statement read.For the states finals, matches will be played on February 16 and 17 across the nation, while the zonal preliminaries will hold from February 28 to March 3. Also, the quarter-finals will hold from March 12 to 15 while the semi-finals and final take place in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, from March 21 to 26.Nine centres will host the zonal preliminaries. Ijebu Ode Stadium hosts teams from Lagos, Osun, Lagos and Kwara states, while Osogbo Township Stadium will have teams from Ondo, Kogi, Ogun and Edo. Other centres hosting the teams are Enugu, Owerri, Calabar, Minna, Kaduna, Katsina and Gombe. For the quarter-finals, the centres are Ilorin, Port Harcourt, Kano and Akure.According to the HSE Vice President and Corporate Affairs of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Tony Attah, the company is poised to keep faith with its resolve to continue supporting grassroots sports development in the country.This, he insisted, would help the country regain its place in the world. Attah said the winner of this edition would smile home with N3.5 million, while the runner-up would get N2 million and third and fourth positions N1 million each.
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