Release Date: 15/03/2010

Members of Mid Ulster Division 2 team Ambassadors FC have arrived in Nigeria on the 5th leg of their 'Cycle for Hope'.

The players are part of a project run by Ambassadors in Sport , Ireland which has seen a core group of 10 cycle from Morocco through 7 countries to the West African state. They were welcomed at the border by AIS Nigeria Director Peter Ottache along with government officials and the President of the Nigerian Cycling Association.

The 'Cycle for Hope' aims to raise awareness and finances for the development of Hope Academies across Africa . AIS Nigeria are planning 6 such academies in 6 states and the team have been on a whirlwind tour of the country meeting government officials and potential sponsors to encourage them to get behind the initiative. Their visit has attracted substantial media interest with Lagos State Government hosting them and covering all their costs and in addition donating $10,000 to the cause. Subaru Motors, Next Newspapers and Sovereign Trust Insurance have also teamed up with the group and are part of the 4 car convoy travelling from state to state.

With interviews on national TV and radio and daily coverage in the papers, the team hope to raise the profile of the initiative and see many more join with AIS to impact the lives of many Nigerian young people.

'It has been an incredible journey so far through mountains, desert and some tough terrain but it is encouraging for us to be in Nigeria and see so many get behind AIS and the Hope Academy project' states team member Stewart Glass. He adds 'I have been on several football tours with AIS and have seen the work that they do around the world and it is amazing to be here inNigeriaand see how the simple fact of us being here has already made such an impact.'

AIS is a Christian football charity seeking to 'bring hope through football'. In Northern Ireland we run Ambassadors FC, Soccer Schools, International football tours as well as seeking to train individuals and churches in how to develop Sports Ministry in their local area.

The team will spend 14 days in Nigeria and hope that their visit will be a huge success before moving onto Cameroonand making their way through several countries before finishing in Cape Town, South Africa in time for the World Cup.

With so much attention on Africain the build up to the World Cup, the team hope that their trip will inspire many to get behind the organisation as it seeks to impact many young people around the world.

For more information ...

www.aisireland.com
www.cycleforhope.org

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