BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
A well known Lagos based football team, Island Stars Football Academy of Ibeju-Lekki have arrived Italy this morning ahead of International Youth Soccer Tournament tagged ‘RIVIERA EASTER CUP’ scheduled from April 3 through 5,2026.
Island Stars are among the invited football academies that would involve in this year’s Riviera Easter Cup which will take place on the Adriatic Riviera,Cattolica, Italy.
Island Stars registered 58 players both male and female categories boarded a flight yesterday night at the Muritala International Airport, Lagos.
Aside the players, officials, parents,guardians and a representative of Lagos State Football Association also part of the team that left the shore of the country for international youth soccer tournament.
Speaking with our correspondent yesterday night, CEO of Island Stars, Victor Akinmoyo explained that the tournament is an opportunity for his players to showcase their talents and compete with other academies from other part of the world.
He noted that the youth soccer tournament in Italy is not only for player’s development,it would also create an avenue for his players for friendship with other players from other part of the world and give room for officials to have social and business interactions with other football stakeholders from other countries.
He disclosed that aside playing the tournament,the team would spend extra days in Italy where they would visit many cities like Milan, Rome and other cities in Italy as part of the team’s programme.
Commenting on the team’s preparation, Akinmoyo who doubles as head of coaching crew boasted that his team have played more than 15 friendly matches in the last few months with good performance saying that his players are mentally and fully ready for the tournament.
Meanwhile the tournament starts with group games, then the best one or two teams from each group get into the Play Off stage.Duration of matches can be changed depending on the number of teams. All players must play at least 1 time. There are 3 players in the categories U17, U16, U15 and U14 who are allowed to participate a year older.
The organizers award participants with team and individual prizes in each age. Every player will be awarded with souvenir or medal. First four teams at each age category receive prizes. The remaining teams receive commemorative plaques for the participants.