BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Organiser of the 7th edition of the U-13 JOF Cup Football Tournament, Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association, has praised the four teams that played on the final days of the competition for their resilience, determination, and outstanding performances despite a torrential downpour that disrupted the tournament’s final day in Lagos.
The heavy rain began around 2:00 p.m. during the third-place playoff between Soccer City FA and Ultimate FA, forcing the centre referee to temporarily suspend the match until conditions improved.
When play resumed, the pitch at the University of Lagos Sports Centre had become heavily waterlogged. Despite the difficult conditions, both teams displayed remarkable courage and commitment, with Soccer City FA edging Ultimate FA 1-0 to claim third place.
Speaking after the tournament, the Secretary of the Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association, Olawale Ganiu, commended all four teams for their exceptional fighting spirit and quality of football despite the adverse weather.
“I want to commend all four teams for their remarkable performances despite the heavy downpour. They demonstrated resilience, discipline, and a passion for the game under very difficult conditions. The fans and invited guests who attended the closing ceremony were thrilled by the quality of football on display,” Ganiu said.
He also congratulated the teams on their achievements throughout the competition and applauded the organisers for successfully staging another memorable edition of the grassroots tournament.
“I congratulate all four teams on their impressive performances and the cash prizes they received during the presentation ceremony. Their efforts reflect the bright future of grassroots football in Lagos and Nigeria,” he added.
In the tournament’s final, Fortune Football Academy of Oshodi emerged champions after defeating VI Foot FA of Ijora 3-1 on penalties following a goalless draw in regulation time.
To reward excellence and encourage young players to pursue their dreams, JOF Nigeria Limited presented cash prizes to the four top-performing teams. Champions Fortune FA received ₦750,000, while runners-up FC VI-Foot earned ₦500,000. Soccer City Football Academy of Iwaya claimed third place after edging Ultimate Football Academy 1-0 to receive ₦350,000, while Ultimate FA went home with ₦250,000.
Individual brilliance was equally recognised during the closing ceremony. Okoroma Destiny of FC VI-Foot emerged as the tournament’s highest goal scorer, Odesola Odunayo of Fortune FA was named the Most Valuable Player, while Fortune FA goalkeeper Alabi Faruk was honoured as the Best Goalkeeper.
The thrilling finale brought the curtain down on another successful edition of the JOF U-13 Cup, a competition widely regarded as one of Lagos’ premier grassroots football tournaments dedicated to discovering and nurturing young talents.