Chairman of Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), Olawale Liammed Gafar has revealed why the association plans to organise Nigeria Ex Internationals Cup in Lagos.
The much anticipated Ex Internationals Cup would hold on June 1 through 30th, 2024 across the various centers in the state.The ex internationals would adopt a team and mentoring the players.
The ex internationals would act as a coach during the home and away knockout format. 32 teams would feature in the Nigeria Ex Internationals Cup.
Addressing the media at the draw/press conference of the event on Friday in LSFA conference room said time has come to bring ex internationals back to the game noted that they are the landlord while the association is just a custodian of the round leather game.
“Football belongs to footballers.We are the custodian of the beautiful game, and the ex international are landlords” Gafar began. “For so long a time, our retired football stars have been kept in the shadows. Now, it’s time for them to return and enjoy the limelight, once again,” he stated.
“This tournament is essentially, aimed at bringing our ex-international players, back to the beautiful game. However, this time, they are coming as Coach- Mentor,” the highly-regarded football administrator added.
Speaking further on the tournament, Vice-Chairman of Lagos FA, Adedotun Coker, explained that the tournament which is expected to feature 32 teams, would be played on a home and away knockout basis, from the preliminaries to the quater-finals, that would be played at the prestigious Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Chairman of the tournament organising committee, Engr. Waidi Akanni, disclosed that the 32 ex-international players listed to participate are expected to form or adopt a team in their locality, and play the roles of the team’s coach.
Akanni, a former Lagos FA boss and Chief Executive Officer of Match International Limited, went ahead to disclose to the obviously delighted ex-international players that plans ongoing to make the tournament, a most memorable one for everyone, even as all the teams and officials, shall be fully kitted by one of Nigeria’s foremost sportswear companies.
Some of the ex-international players in attendance include, Peter Rufai, Franklin Howard, Friday Elahor, Taiwo Oloyede, Jide Oguntuase and Taiwo Enegwae.
Others are Friday Elahor, Edema Benson, Peter Nieketein, Loveday Omoruyi, Monday Kanu and Festus Odini.
