By Adekola Afolabi
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In a bid to discover talents and further promote unity among youths across Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly and lawmaker representing Ifedore State constituency in the hallowed chambers, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun at the weekend flagged off a football competition tagged, “Oleyelogun Foundation Football Tournament”.

The ceremony held at the African Grammar School, Igbara-Oke, was attended by dignitaries within and outside the council area.

The sponsor of the football tournament, Oleyelogun explained that the rationale behind the football match was to provide job opportunities and develop the youths across the 10 wards that make up the Local Government Area.

He added that the football competition would also strengthen the peace and unity among youths in all towns and communities in Ifedore council area, apart from keeping the youth busy and make them lively especially during the yuletide season.

Oleyelogun particularly noted that many budding talents would be discovered and nurtured during the exercise with a view to giving them necessary support to be great in life.

The Director General of the Football Planning Committee, Pastor Arowosebe Solomon who gave detailed explanation about the programme said the football competition was divided into two different categories which include society clubs  and secondary school female soccer team.

According to him, to effectively cover the target youths, Ifedore Local Government was divided into three zones namely Ijare Zone comprising about four different towns, Ilara Zone comprising about four towns and Igbara-Oke Zone comprising about seven different towns, with 18 players selected from each of the zones.

The DG stressed that football competition which started on Saturday would continue today Monday where four different clubs are expected to slug it out with one another simultaneously at ijare and Ilara.

He disclosed that overall winner of the competition would get Trophy while the second and third in the competition would smile home with cash gifts courtesy of the Speaker. Consolation prizes would also be on ground for other participants.

Pastor Arowosebe hinted that the secondary school female soccer team would kick off immediately after the school holiday.

He said apart from unifying youths, the competition would help the participants discover and showcase their talents to the world.