General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, during a courtesy visit by Coach and players of Lagos-based Ambassadors Football Academy in Abuja, has called on aspiring young sportsmen and women to eschew social vices and endeavour to combine their craft with education in order to make it to the top.

 The seasoned sports administrator stated that avoiding vices such as smoking, drinking and gangsterism ultimately helps in moulding a successful career in sport, while education would definitely impact on the tenor of a career in sport and keeps the athlete going in a good way after retirement, either as a result of injury, loss of form or age.

“Anytime I have the opportunity, I always counsel young athletes against indulging in social vices like drinking, smoking, womanizing and other unsavoury vices. These vices kill a sporting career quickly, and no matter how talented, such a person is doomed.

“Education is also very important. Don’t ever think of abandoning your educational pursuit because you are building a career in sport. It always backfires. If as a result of injury, loss of form or age, you are unable to continue as an athlete, it is education that will sustain you and sustain you through old age.”

The NFF scribe traced the history of sport, saying that while several decades ago, sport was regarded only as recreation, things have turned one-hundred-and-eighty degrees and sport is now a multi –billion dollar industry in which hundreds of millions of people are lucratively engaged.

“Sport now boosts the image of nations; it is one of the biggest employers of labour worldwide and; is a genuine means of fostering unity and togetherness.

You have a wonderful opportunity to key into this fast –expanding and magnificent industry and I charge you to be diligent, dedicated and disciplined.”

 Coach Segun Omoniyi had explained earlier that the academy was on a tour of the Federal Capital Territory and avail the young footballers the opportunity to visit the Glass House and to meet with the NFF’s chief operating officer.