By John Kayode
Football is the best tool to unite and take youths off social vices if it’s well package, a football enthusiast and sponsor of 2023 D’ Royal Football Club (DFC) Off Season Tournament, Mathew Olaniboji has said.
Olaniboji stated this at the draws of the maiden edition of the competition tagged: (8- Teams Tourney) held in Akure .
Olaniboji said he decided to organise and sponsor the competition in order to contribute to the development of the grassroots football in the state, because government can’t do it alone.
He disclosed that eight teams will be participating in the maiden edition of the competition that will kick off on Tuesday 13,this month, at the Ondo State Sports complex,Akure.
The sponsor revealed that there are lots of prizes to be won as a team and individual awards not left out in the competition.
He assured all the participating teams and officials of their safety, saying security will be provided for the competition.
He said: “We are not envisaging anything bad, but we just have to put a preventive measures in place for the safety of the officials, because football is a game of passion.”
“I admonish all the teams to cooperate with the organisers, so that we can all achieve the goal of contributing to the development of the round leather game in our state together”
“Our target is to discover budding talents that cut across the nook and crannies of the state and ensure we nurture them to stardom.
A Proprietor of one of the participating teams in the competition, Mr Ayokunle Oluwatope (Tuface) commended the organisers for deeming it fit to bring a laudable event to herald talents in the state.
“My team is here to participate in the maiden edition of competition, and we pray for a better outing.”
The coach of Victory Lions, Bamidele Tommasson expressed optimism that his team will host and win the competition, saying they are going for gold.
“With the preparation on ground, I can assure you that the competition will be one of its kind in the Ondo State.”
On his part coach of Ijapo Ages FC, Olaleke Karimu (Bora) who few months ago defended a grassroots competition they won in 2021 said his side will improve on their performance in the competition to ensure they have a good outing.
“All I can say is that we are not going to let our fans down in this competition, we will present a strong team to measure up with other teams in the contest.”
Victory Lions will lock horns with Barracks Eagles in the opening match of the tourney, while Tubaba Football Academy will tackle SGIC FC in the second match, while the Group B top seed, Ijapo Ages FC will face Weli Weli FC and FEMA FC go all out against CELICA FC in match day 2.
Group A
Victory Lions A1
Tubaba FC A2
SGIC A3
Barrack Eagles A4
Group B
Ijapo Ages Stars FC B1
FEMA FC B2
CELICA B3
WELI WELi B4
+ There are no comments
Add yours