Tag: Lagos State Football Association

The Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed, honoured with a special recognition award for his continuous support and contributions to the development of Nigerian youth, especially, in Lagos State.

Gafar was honoured at the just concluded fourth edition of the pre season Gusau Ahlan tournament, ended Friday in Lafia, Nasarawa,

The Lagos FA boss was eulogised for being ever-present at all the opening and closing ceremonies of the prestigious tournament.

Gafar was presented with the award by Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Alhaji Abdullahi A. Sule, with the able support of President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau.

Speaking with our correspondent after receiving the award, Gafar said the award showed that his commitment to football development in Lagos and Nigeria at large was appreciated.

He however said the award which was bestowed on him by Nasarawa Governor would make him to work harder for the development of football in the country

The board of Lagos State Football Association led by Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed, on Saturday, announced the appointment of Wale Joseph, a veteran sports journalist and former Lagos FA board member as the Chief Executive Officer, of the State Football League.

The board also appointed experienced football administrator, Dele Gbajumo, as the Chief Executive officer, of the State Under-15 and Under-17 football leagues.

Speaking at the LSFA Secretariat on Saturday, during the meeting with the State Divisional FAs and the State Football League Clubs, the Vice-Chairman of LSFA, Dotun Coker, said the board is determined to develop the game from the grassroots, hence the engagement of the two astute football administrators.

He stated that the State League, as a matter of urgency needed to be restructured, rebranded and repackaged to attract sponsorship.

Speaking further, he disclosed that the league board has been mandated to set up an Elite State League, that will not only be very competitive, but also very attractive to sponsors and partners, adding that this will raise the standard of the league and the game in the state.

Coker advised that an attractive league with awards and monetary rewards for the players and clubs at the Elite league, should be the focus of the league board.

Coker revealed that the Under 15 and 17 leagues are one of the priorities of the board hence the appointment of Dele Gbajumo, a former Chairman of Ikeja Divisional FA.

He noted that the FA, has a very good scouting system for the under 13s and under 15s, even as he added that further development of the young footballers is very paramount to the State FA, hence the needs to have a well packaged and properly structured league.

Wale Joseph will be assisted by the duo of Mr. Musbau Oseni and Mr. Adeleke Ibiyemi, while Dele Gbajumo, will be assisted by Mr. Victor Akinmoyo and Mr. Bello Ishola.

Meanwhile, registration has opened for the 2023/2024 State League, and it will close on Friday, 23rd of August 2024.

The Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) led by Hajji Gafar Liameed, has congratulated the trio of Lagos State based football clubs, Madiba FC, Inter Lagos and Ikorodu City, for qualifying for the NNL Super 8 playoffs.

In the statement, Hajji Gafar Liameed described the qualification of the teams, as remarkable and very commendable.

“Lagos State Football Association, the stakeholders and indeed, all lovers of the game are very happy for reaching the NNL plays off. As we earnestly looking forward to big time and top level football matches in Lagos State in the next season, Lagos FA, shall continue to give technical and every other necessary supports to all clubs, for the benefits of game in the state.”the statement reads.

The board of the Lagos State Football Association also expresses its profound appreciation to the Lagos State Government and its agencies, including the Lagos State Sports Commission, for providing the enabling environment for social activities and particularly, football to thrive in the state.

BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE

The newly sworn in Vice Chairman of Lagos State Football Association LSFA, Adedotun Olugbenga Coker would be a guest speaker at the forthcoming seminar which put together by Association Of Football Club Owners, AFCO.

The seminar would come up on 25th, April, 2024 by 10am at the Magrellos Fast Food, 46, Ayangbure Road, Besides PHCN office, Ikorodu, Lagos.

Coker, who doubles as a member of NFF Facilities Committee, would talk on ‘Principles & Practices of Football Business’.

The Vice Chairman of Lagos State football ruling body has been on football business and administration more than two decades and he would bring his wealth of experience to do justice to the topic before him.

Chairman AFCO Ikorodu Division, Oluwasegun Ajiroba disclosed that the seminar was put together to educate and enlighten the football stakeholders on the need for the basic principles and practice of football business.

He explained that many club owners, coaches, managers and and other stakeholders do not know much about the practice and business of football saying that what they focus more is to win the title for their clubs.

“This seminar is the first of its kind in Ikorodu and Lagos at large.The body want to educate our football stakeholders how they can make money on football instead of fighting for titles all the time.

“Football nowadays is business and only those who know about it can make money out of it.We are organising this seminar so that our football stakeholders in the profession would be able to have knowledge on the football business,”he said.

Ajiroba said the choice of Coker as a guest speaker was as a result of his experiences he gathered on football for so many years and he is strongly believes that the guest speaker would do thorough job on the topic.

Meanwhile, the chairman of LSFA, Liammed Olawale Gafar has been invited as a special guest of honour, while former Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Alhaji Gafaar Bolowotan would be in attendance as one of the founding members of AFCO.

The Lagos State Football Association chairman Ogboni Fuad Alade Oki has congratulated the quartet of Jelili Ogunmuyiwa, Yemisi Akintoye, Olayinka Olajide & Hope Igho among other referees listed by FIFA in its International Referees list for 2024.

In a message conveyed to the Nigeria Football Federation, the world football governing body FIFA has approved a total number of 30 Nigerian referees to be placed on the international lists for the year 2024, among them 11 referees, 11 assistant referees, four beach soccer referees and four futsal referees.

Commending the three referees for their diligence and outstanding performances which has placed them on global recognition by FIFA, the Lagos FA supremo also harped praise on Lagos State Football Referees Council for producing top grade referees for the football community.

“Let me congratulate and celebrate Jelili Ogunmuyiwa, Yemisi Akintoye, Olayinka Olajide and Hope Igho for making the exalted list of referees listed by FIFA for match officials for the 2024 FIFA Refereeing International Lists” Fuad said.

“These are referees who have maintained a high level of discipline and impeccable character while discharging their duties over the years. I strongly believe they possess the quality and are more than capable of handling the high intensity required to officiate at the global stage.

Fuad further described the inclusion of 30 Nigerian referees by FIFA to officiate in different capacities in 2024 football matches as testament to the success of excellent job done by the referees bodies in the country.

“I would like to also congratulate the Lagos State Football Referees Council and the Nigeria Referees Association at large for their tremendous efforts for producing top-level referees who are competent enough to compete at the highest levels.

“Nigeria is blessed with outstanding personnel across the spectrum of sports and other walks of life and the beauty of it is that there is reward for excellent performance. This should serve as a rallying point for other referees to up their game too”.

BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE

Lagos State Football Association Electoral Committee headed by Ahaji Tijani Azeez has received total condemnation by the delegates and candidates following the manner and way the council football elections were conducted on Monday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

The Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) led by Fuad Oki mandated the committee to conduct football elections into the 20 local government areas in the state.

Our correspondent who monitored the football elections Monday morning noticed that the exercise was characterised by electoral irregularities and manipulations.

The elections were forced to be postponed as a result of agitations and complaints from delegates and candidates who felt that the electoral process was hijacked by some disgruntle element who contribute nothing to football development in the state.

Some of the delegates who spoke to our correspondent said the elections were hijacked by some politicians who want to put their loyalists to occupy the position of chairmen and board members.

“This is a big shame for Lagos FA. Imagine one Azeez Mustapha, who was cleared to contest for a board member in Mushin, but all of a sudden, his name appeared on the list as a chairmanship candidate. Tell me, when did he buy the chairmanship form and who cleared him to contest for the post of chairman.

“We only know Abdulganiu Yusuf as only candidate for the chairman position in Mushin but to my greatest surprise, Azeez who was cleared to contest for a board member was seen cleared to contest for chairmanship seat. This is a shame and I am afraid if this present FA board can bring any change to football in the state,” said a delegate who refused to mention his name.

Another allegation that was levelled against the electoral committee was the approval of new delegates who were not eligible to vote.

Some of the delegates who came from Ojo, Ibeju-Lekki, Epe Kosofe Amuwo-Odofin, Eti-Osa and Alimosho local governments alleged that the committee approved new delegates to vote which was against the rules of electoral guidelines, while some delegates noted that most of the new delegates are from other professions not football stakeholders.

“Only four delegates were cleared to vote for chairman and board members in Ibeju-Lekki, but when we were about to vote, we were told that the four delegates have been removed with no reason to justify this while they brought eight new delegates that are not in the football sector,”said a delegate from Ibeju-Lekki.

Despite the irregularities and manipulation rocking the elections, the electoral commiittee were able to conduct elections into some local government such as Shomolu, Agege, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Oshodi/Isolo and Ifako-Ijaiye.

Secretary of the electoral committee, Rabiu-Okikioposu Akeem refused to speak to journalists but said: “I will get back to you later Mr. Journalist.”