Femi Atolagbe
Sports, especially football has been described as a veritable tool to bring youths together and take them away from social vices.
The Chief Executive Officer of TUBABA Football Scouting Academy Network Nigeria, Mr Ayokunle Oluwatope stated this during the draws and seminar for the 15th edition of the grassroots football competition tagged: 2023 Adu Cubana Unity Cup. Which he said would be sponsored by Mr Olumuyiwa Adu.
Oluwatope disclosed that the purpose of the competition was not to only take youths off the street but to positively educate them on why they should see football as a profession.
He added that FIFA agents will be on ground to monitor and scout for outstanding players for possible transfer within and also to Europe.
Oluwatope while calling on philanthropists to invest in grassroots football business, charged the three tiers of government to support the round leather game at all levels by creating an enabling environment for investors to thrive.
He said: The aim of his organization is to create an atmosphere of frenzy for the people in and outside of Akure through football, which was primarily to foster unity and love among people and all the participating teams.
“We want to appeal to all participating teams to be disciplined, dedicated and determined in the course of the competition and we wish them a hitch-free competition and best of luck.
“However, we have a lot of numerous achievements in both state and national assignments, our love for grassroots football development as part of our willingness was for us to keep Ondo State youth busy in the area of grassroot football during the yuletide season.”
The sponsor, Mr Olumuyiwa Adu said his urge to support the 15th edition of the competition was to see Ondo State indigent football players in a big club in Europe.
He added that football is away to expose our youth to not only the development in the sector, but the business aspect of it, so that at the end of the day they will be able to bring the billions to our society.
“I must commend the organisers of the competition and the local Organising Committee for a very good job, but we must look inward on how we can expand the horizon of the competition.
“One of my plans is to bring football academy to Ondo state in order to engage our youths even during the holidays for them to train in football.”
The draws saw a resource person, FIFA and CAF instructor, Mr Henry Abiodun discussed the topic: Grassroots Football Performance The Way Forward with the participating coaches and players at the event.
Ijapo Ages Football Club will be up against Fortress FC in the opening match of the competition at the Ondo State Sports complex, Akure today.
The other participating teams include; Victory Lions, Waxing,
Fortune Rangers, Young Kings, Mighty Sparrow, Barrack Eagles, Ijapo Estate Eagles, Enmax, Idanre United, Benlab Academy and Alagbaka United.