BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
The sponsor of the U-15 8th edition of boys & girls Bola Akindele football tournament had announced the sum of N2 million for the winners of both categories.
At the press conference held on Wednesday in Lagos, the cup donor who doubles as Group Managing Director, Courteville Business Solutions PLC, Dr Adebola Ismail Akindele said his passion for the youths motivated him to channel his resources to grassroots football in the last seven years.
“This competition has produced players who are now in the Nigerian league and the Junior national teams in both categories. The company is not sponsoring this grassroots football for profit-making, making rather we are doing this as part of our corporate social responsibility.
“At the final ceremony, winners in both categories would be rewarded with the sum of N400,000 with a trophy. We would also give first runner up N300,000, while third and fourth position would pocket N200,000 and N100,000 respectively,” he said.
In the boys category, the opening match would be played between Guidon Smart and Latoyam FC on Saturday at the Ojoniyu Sports Centre, Ebute-Metta, Mainland.
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The age-grade competition organised annually by the Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association aimed to promote football development and create a platform for the youngsters to showcase their talent.
Akindele, however, said the competition was borne out of the need to engage youths while hoping that the youngsters will seize the opportunity of the competition to develop their careers.
The cup donor who presented trophies for the finals to the organisers acknowledged the contributions of private organisations and well-meaning individuals to sports development, noting that the government must continue to provide opportunities for talented youth to excel in their chosen careers.
The sports philanthropist expressed his satisfaction with the success achieved so far, as some talents discovered from the tournament are now representing junior national teams and playing for professional clubs in and outside the country.
Meanwhile, 32 male and 24 female teams, drawn from different parts of Lagos, will participate in this year’s competition.
The Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association secretary,Aliu Olawale Ganiu, applauded the sponsor for his passion for the round leather game and reaffirmed readiness to stage a befitting tournament.
The finals and closing ceremony will be held on Sunday, July 20 at the Campos Memorial Mini Stadium, Lagos Island.
