By Abdulgafar Oladimeji

The Kano edition of the Steron national community development through football competition , on Tuesday flagged off in all the wards in across the 15 metropolitan local governments in Kano .

The football competition sponsored by Steron Community Development Foundation will feature grass root football clubs drawn from the wards .

The managing director, Steron Resources International, Abubakar Sadiq Omar briefing sports writers in Kano last Monday, said the major motives behind the football competition is use football as a vehicle to empower Nigerian youths.

According to him, the Steron football project is borne as part of the company’s Cooperate Social Responsibility , CSR with the set out target to assist the youths to achieve their football dreams , saying it is also to make life more meaningful to the future population of Nigerians.

The Managing director , who was represented by the head of the foundation, Mr Musa Mohammed said “ we recognize the power of football as a very strong national unifier and tool for empowerment.

“we hosted similar competitions in other parts of the country, now we are in Kano , Kano is going to be exceptional.

“it is going to be exceptional because, we have invited football scouts to come and watch the matches, so that they can identify those players with exceptional talent, then we can proceed to help them pursue their professional football development.

Mohammed further said that “throughout the duration of the competition, we will be offering free medical services to players, coaches, back room staff, referees and football fans.”

Kano state Football Association, KSFA described the Steron football project as a comprehensive package that would touch all spheres in the pursuit of football development in the state.

The chairman KSFA youths competition committee,, Hassan Garo , spoke on the behalf of the state FA disclosed that the football competition kicks off , March 31st and runs through the first week of April 2026.

He stated that the tournament is an open competition without age restrictions, explaining that this is to allow talented players within all age ranges to showcase their football qualities

He said, however ,players who have featured in any level in either of the national major football leagues are exempted from taking part in the tourney.

In his words “ the tournament will start at the wards level centres, the winners at the wards will proceed to compete to produce the local government champion, then each local government champion will now compete to determine the overall champion.

“our joy at the FA knows no bound, because all the clubs have reasons to celebrate the coming of Steron, once you make it to the local government level you will get consolatory prizes

“meaning that if you advance from the ward stages to the local government you will not go home empty handed, also the scouts will be here to scout for talents.

“the opening match in the inter local government phase, which will involve the clubs that qualified from each local government will be played at Sani Abach stadium.

“The remaining matches at this level of the matches will be played at Mahaha ports complex, the final matches will return to be played at Sani Abach stadium.

He disclosed that provisions have been made for adequate security presence , adding that the state FA has prioritize the essence to make the competition an entertaining event.

He added that the media will be given a pivotal role to bring to Kano living rooms, live reports of the matches .

Garo stressed that “we are not leaving anything to chance, we want to see more private entities like Steron come into the game, either for communal purposes like this one or for commercial purposes, therefore we will always live up to expectations.

He enjoined Kano fans and football stakeholders to grab the opportunity been offered by the sponsors in the area of medical outreach to improve their well being.

Our correspondent reports that, the matches have kicked off in the designated ward centres across the state.