Keeping with the tradition to remember the memory of the late lawyer, Bankole Olumide Aluko (SAN), a founding partner in the law firm of Aluko & Oyebode, who died over two decades ago, the BOA Lawyers League Football Tournament returns with a bang this year.
The aficionados of the football tournament will kick off on Sunday 5 May 2024 at the Lagos Preparatory School situated in the affluent Ikoyi suburb of Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
The BOA Lawyers League, a football tournament features prominent law firms in the city of Lagos with the aim of bringing the lawyers together in a friendly and competitive environment. The league reaches its 19th edition this year, after it was suspended in Week 3 of the 2020 edition in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria.
Though Falana & Falana, champions of 17th edition are not featuring in the league this year, 15 teams across law firms in Lagos are gearing up for the kickoff date with enthusiasm and high hopes of winning the coveted trophy after the draw ceremony was held on Friday evening in Lagos.
Speaking at the draw ceremony, Chukwuka Ikwuazon (SAN), a partner at ALN Nigeria/Aluko & Oyebode and former Chairman of the NBA, Lagos Branch said the 19th edition of BOA Lawyers League promises to be exciting and glamorous as the organisers will leave nothing to chance to ensure a memorable tournament in honour of the late partner, Bankole Olumide Aluko (SAN) who they all held in high esteem.
Represented at the draw ceremony by Emma Ndiyo, a senior associate at Aluko & Oyebode, Ikwuazon (SAN) said it was an honour to have other colleagues from other law firms to have the tournament to hold again after the suspension amid COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
“We are looking forward to having fun this year. This is a 12-week league which kicks off on Sunday 5 May at the Lagos Preparatory School. The teams are ready for the hostilities. It will be an exciting competition,” Ikwuazon (SAN) said.
During the draw ceremony, the 15 registered participating teams were grouped into Pot A (Harmattan) and Pot B (Rain). At the end of the transparent draw witnessed by the representatives of the law firms, Temsplars, ALP, UUBO, Grey Bloom, Wole Olanipekun, Dentos-Acas, DOA and Gelias were grouped in Pot A, while the likes of OALP, Minerva, Aluko & Oyebode, Strea & Blan, Punuka B & I and Pinheiro were in Pot B.
The league will be played in round robin format in the group stage where four top teams in each group qualify for the quarter finals. Classification matches will be played among the teams that fail to make it to the quarter final.
The league will be played under the strict rules of the round leather game to obtain the best standard practices as laid by FIFA, the world football governing body.
