56 teams vie for N2m at Akindele football tourney

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A total of 56 teams are set to battle for a prize purse of N2m at the ninth edition of the Bola Akindele U-15 Boys and Girls football competition, with organisers unveiling the trophy at a presentation ceremony in Lagos.

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Speaking at the event, Dr Adebola Akindele said the sponsorship of the tournament was aimed at securing the future of talented youths, many of whom he described as roaming the streets daily in search of a living despite possessing God-given talent.

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“These hidden talents are on the street without hope, that’s why I’m sparing no effort to rescue them through the sponsorship of the competition,” Akindele said.

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Organisers noted that the true value of the competition lay not only in winning, but also in the lessons learnt, the friendships established and the memories created along the way, adding that the grassroots association’s mission remained to develop talent, build character and instil a passion for football in the children.

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Tournament coordinator, Taofeek Ajibola, revealed that winners in both the boys’ and girls’ categories would go home with N400,000 and a trophy each, while the first runners-up would receive N300,000.

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The third and fourth-placed finishers would pocket N200,000 and N100,000 respectively, in addition to monetary awards set aside for outstanding players of the tournament.

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Ajibola thanked Akindele for his financial backing of the competition and promised that the Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association would make this year’s edition bigger, better and more glamorous.

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Speaking earlier, Akindele, who doubles as Chairman of Courteville Business Solutions and the Cup donor, reaffirmed his commitment to grassroots football development in the state, noting that his company had sponsored the tournament for the past eight years without government support.

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He said sponsoring a grassroots football tournament was a way of empowering young people, particularly during their holiday period, and urged the players to give their best while avoiding social vices that could bring the tournament into disrepute.

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The tournament will kick off on Saturday at the Ojoniyu Sports Centre, Ebute-Metta, on the Lagos Mainland, with Webster Football Academy of Ikorodu taking on Ultimate Warriors Football Academy of Mushin by noon.

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A total of 32 teams were registered for the boys’ category, while 24 teams signed up for the girls’ category, with organisers set to release the fixtures for the girls’ category on Friday.

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The grand finale will hold on Sunday, August 30.

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