BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Following the success of the just concluded Lagos Waka football league, the captain of league title holders, First Waka A football team, Emmanuel Ibru has called on soccer loving Nigerians who are aboved 50 years to show interest in the league.
Ibru disclosed this after his team played 1-1 with Managers football team to emerge as champions over the weekend at the Eagles Club football pitch, Surulere, Lagos.
The League started some weeks ago with four teams involved.The four teams are First Waka A football team, Managers football team, First Waka B football team and Apapa/Ajegunle football team.
At the final on the log table, First Waka A football team top the league, followed by Managers, while First Waka B football team occupied third position as Apapa/Ajegunle football team maintained fourt position.
Speaking on the team’s success and Waka football league, Ibru said determination, teamwork and hardworking were the factors responsible for his team’s success and congratulated his colleagues for the job well done.
“It was a tough league because it is not like normal football league.It has its own rules and we need to play according to the rules.One of the main rule is that players need to walk not to run on the pitch so if you run, it is a foul.So my colleagues and i quickly adapt to the rules whuch really helped us to win the league,”he said.
Commenting on the importance of league, Ibru said the league is a way of exercising the body and keep old aged footballers fit.
He said the league has really helped him to keep in good shape saying that his fitness level is top notch.
“Honestly the league has really helped my fitness level and i am happy that the league was introduced during the time i am aboved 50 years.I want to urge other my colleagues who are above 50 years and interested in football should come and play Waka football league,”he said.
Chairman Lagos Lagos Waka Football Association, Godson Uti said the league is growing fast in the country saying that more teams would be included in the next edition.
He disclosed that Waka football globally known as Walking football has been existed for years in Europe and urged the old footballers to come out and partake in the next Waka football league.
“We are working seriously to make this waka football growing not only in Lagos but Nigeria at large.We have succeeded in organising our inaugural league which was a successful one.The future of Waka football league is bright in Nigeria and with time, more old footballers would come out and show interest in the game,”he said.
It would be recalled that Nigeria participated in the first edition of the Walking Football World Nations Cup at the prestigious St. Georges Park, England, August 2023.
‘According to Uti”It was a great honour to our country at the first ever Walking Football World Cup. We were able to raise a team and we finished 9th out of 64 nations that featured in the championship.
“We are not only consolidating the gains from participating in the World Cup, but also working hard to grow the game in the country,’’
He explained that England has leagues above 50, 60 and 70 years of age, saying, ‘’we hope to get there in no distant future’’.Uti concluded.
