Qualify and collect N50m, Eagles promised

Posted by admin Headlines Thursday, October 6th, 2011

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will receive a whopping N50million winning bonus if they subdue their opponents, Guinea’s Syli Nationale and also qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations after tomorrow’s make-or-mar duel in Abuja.

Apart from the N50million largesse, Pepsi, the official beverage sponsor of the Africa Cup of Nations, also promised to reward the team with a princely some of N100million should they repeat the feat of the 1994 Eagles in Tunisia by winning the next edition of the Africa Nations Cup being hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Announcing these motivational packages for the Super Eagles at a media briefing in Lagos yesterday, Mr Jimi Awosika, managing director, Insight Communications and spokesman for Pepsi, said the N50million bonus award to the players was a clarion call to the players to fight for honour for their fatherland and ensure that the glory of our football is restored.

Quoting from Nigeria’s national anthem, Awosika said: “Arise O’ Compatriots, Nigeria calls obey. This Saturday and henceforth, we must all answer that call, we must all stand up and show support for our team and for our country, Nigeria.”
Answering a reporter’s question, he said the Pepsi’s N50million largess was conditional: “The Super Eagles must win and qualify, not just winning.” According to Awosika, Pepsi, the global brand known for its youthful and dynamic spirit, has been relentless in its support for Nigerian football and its fans.

He noted that the Pepsi Football Academy, which has contributed immensely to the development of Nigerian football, is proud to have some ex-students of the Academy as regulars in the Super Eagles and other national teams. These include Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwingie, Elderson Echijile, Solomon Okoronkwo, etc. He charged Nigerians to troop out on Saturday to show their support to the Super Eagles. Pepsi has been at the forefront of football development with its investment in the Pepsi Football Academy, the biggest football mill in sub-Saharan Africa with over 3,000 students and 14 training centers spread across Nigeria.

The academy has discovered and nurtured young football talents like Osaze Odemwingie, Mikel Obi, Elderson Echiejile, Solomon Okoronkwo, Joseph Apala and Isaac Promise into stardom. Pepsi, through its trust fund, has in the last five years awarded scholarships to some students of the academy to play and study in the best high schools in the United Kingdom. Ten of them are in both St. Bedes College and Brooke House College in the UK.

Pepsi sponsored the Nigerian Premier League between 1994 and 2000 during which it adopted an all-inclusive sponsorship with monthly awards to best player, best referee and best supporters club.

-Sunwp_posts