Akindele kicks off U-15 Boys/Girls football competition
Uzor Odigbo
Philanthropist Dr. Bola Akindele has said that reasons for the sponsorship of Bola Akindele U-15 Boys and Girls football competition is to secure the future of talented youths.
He said this during a chat at the Cup presentation ceremony in Lagos.
Akindele noted that there are many talented boys and girls hawking and roaming the streets daily looking for daily bread with divine talent to make a living.
“These hidden talents are on the street without hope, that’s why I’m sparring no effort to rescue them through the sponsorship of the competitions”
Meanwhile, a whopping sum of N2 million naira has been announced as the prize money by the organisers of the U-15 Boys & Girls Bola Akindele football tournament.
Tournament coordinator, Taofeek Ajibola revealed that the winners in both categories would go home with the sum of N400,000 and giant trophy, while first runner up would receive the sum of N300,000.
The third and fourth position finishers would pocket N200,000 and N100,000 respectively noted that would be monetary awards for outstanding players of the tournament.
Ajibola however thanked the title sponsor, Dr. Akindele for his financial support given the tournament and promised that the Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association would make this year’s edition big, better and glamorous.
Speaking earlier, Chairman Courteville Business Solutions, Dr Adebola Ismail Akindele who doubles as Cup donor reinstated his commitment to the grassroots football development in the state saying that the company has been sponsoring the tournament in the last ten years without the support of the government.
He said sponsoring a grassroots football tournament is a way of empowering the young ones especially during the time they are on holiday and urged them to give their best and avoid social vices that can bring the tournament into disrepute.
Meanwhile the tournament would kick off on Saturday at Ojoniyu Sports Center, Ebute-Metta,Mainland, Lagos.
Webster Football Academy from Ikorodu would play against Ultimate Warriors Football Academy from Mushin on Saturday by noon.
A total of 32 teams were registered for the boys category, while 24 teams registered for the girls category.
Organisers announced that the fixtures of the girls category would be released on Friday afternoon.
