BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Chairman of Lagos State Football Association,LSFA, Olawale Liameed Gafar has commended the inaugural edition of AMIOA Day which was organised by the five football coaches councils under the auspices of Ikeja Divisional Football Coaches Council.
The five football coaches councils that formed AMIOA are Agege, Mushin, Ikeja,Oshodi/Isolo & Ejigbo as well as Alimosho came together to celebrate the affiliate coaches under the five councils and tagged it ‘AMIOA Day’,
The AMIOA Day featured series of activities ranging from coaching seminar to football event and award recognition.
The first of its kind initiative provided networking opportunity and promote camaraderie among the coaches as well as uniting the councils.
Addressing the coaches,Gafar showered encomium on the five coaches councils for initiating AMIOA Day and described the celebration as a way of bringing Lagos coaches together in unity.
“This is a laudable event and I am happy that AMIOA Day has recorded huge success in terms of coaches participation, organisation and also in area of football event.This is to tell you that AMIOA Day has brought coaches from far and near together and I will encourage the Lagos State Football Coaches Association to declare a day where all councils in the state would come together like this and celebrate their members in unique way.
“I commend the councils once again under Ikeja Divisional Football Association for this initiative.I strongly believe that AMIOA Day is an annual event and all affiliate coaches under the five councils would be looking forward to the event every year,”he said.
Lagos FA boss however sought more support for the trainers while announcing beneficiaries for the next batch of ‘36 Coaches Scholarships’ initiative that will be trained and certified by the National Institute for Sports,NIS.
In his own comment,Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Musbau Oseni expressed satisfaction with the maiden event and assured that the initiative would hold annually with the support of the councils.
Recognition awards were presented to deserving individuals as the Chairman Ikeja Dvisional Football Association, Evangelist Rafiu Taiwo Alagbe and the LSFA Chairman, Gafar were honoured at the end of the event.
In the football event, Agege Football Coaches Council emerged as champions after defeated Alimosho Football Coaches Council 1-0 in the final match.
Meanwhile, the event started with the coaching seminar put together to educate coaches on the laws of the game and update the trainers on modern training coaching techniques.
The workshop, which was facilitated by top coaches from the council created platform for sharing of knowledge, exchange of ideas and experiences to ensure proper growth and unearthing genuine talents.
The AMIOA Day event was held on Workers Day at the Bishop Aggrey Memorial School, Ilasamaja, Mushin.