Tournament
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, March 15, 2018 (NAN) A Lagos lawmaker, Mr Adedamola Kasunmu, has initiated a football tournament tagged “ARK Football Competition’’ to ameliorate the challenges of unemployment and restiveness among youths in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lawmaker, representing Ikeja Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, said at the opening that the tournament was to discover budding talents.
Kasunmu, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Youths and Social Development, Lagos State House of Assembly, said that 32 teams from football academies in the state were featuring in the U-21 competition.
“This maiden edition, by the special grace of God, will be a platform to discover new players and it is expected that it will outlive all of us and extend to generations to come.
“The role that I was assigned has given me the opportunity to traverse the length and breadth of our beloved state.
“This has allowed me to have first-hand experience of some of the challenges facing our youths across the state, especially in the area of sports and social development.
“In Lagos State, we run a government that is fully responsive, pro-active and highly alert to its duties to the citizens. Part of it is the bills that will make visible impacts on our youths,’’ he said.
Kasunmu said that the competition would help youths in the area of empowerment, mental development as well as engagements.
“It is therefore, my desire to consolidate the gains of these efforts already put in place by the government in the area of youth development and empowerment.
“The tournament is strategically structured to showcase players within the age of 21 years and below and targeted at discovering, inspiring, promoting and empowering untapped soccer talents.
“When young people participate in sports, it helps with the development of their motor skills. Sports Psychologist has discovered that playing soccer aids in the fundamental development of the brain.
“Aside this, sports have been identified as a major tool in the development of young people. It is also an obvious fact that sports can be a stop-gap to the rising case of unemployment in the country,’’ he said.
Ex-Super Eagles player and former Barcelona FC of Spain Midfielder, Gbenga Okunowo, extolled the virtue of the Lagos lawmaker in organising the tournament aimed at supporting grassroots development of football in the state.
“I want to commend the organisers of the tournament, Kasunmu for a job well done. It is an inspiration for the youth to see the young ones engaged in a tournament like this.
“It will provide a veritable platform for them to showcase their talents and maybe, we will find stars here that will do the nation proud.
“Grassroots football development is the way to go if we want to succeed in developing our football in the country. We need tournaments like this,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the first match played between Future Stars Football Academy and Bola Ahmed Tinubu FA at RVTC Mini Stadium, Isheri, Ojodu-Berger, ended in favour of the later.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu FA defeated Future Stars Academy 2-0, courtesy of a brace from the “Man of the Match’’ Bolaji Odeyemi.
Odeyemi speaking to NAN said that he was happy to have scored both goals that gave his side the needed victory, adding that his team aimed at winning the competition.
“I am very happy to score two goals today, that is what I wanted; we have trained well ahead of the competition and I hope the cup will come our way,’’ he said.
Dignitaries at the competition are members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Sports, Youths and Social Development, and the Technical Director, Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), Dotun Coker.
Others include the President-General, Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rafiu Ladipo, Chairman, Lagos State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Debo Oshundun and former Super Eagles goalkeepers, Peter Rufai and Dosu Joseph among others. (NAN)
KOJE/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)