A football lover, Mr Mathew Olaniboji, has said that the development of grassroots football is one of the best tools to unite and take youths off social vices in Nigeria.
Olaniboji, the sponsor of the 2023 ”D’ Royal Football Club (DFC) Off Season Tournament”, stated this at the draws of the maiden edition of the competition, tagged: “Eight-Team Tourney” on Sunday in Akure.
Olaniboji said he decided to organise and sponsor the competition in order to contribute to the development of grassroots football in the state, insisting that, ”government can’t do it alone.”
He added that a total of eight teams would participate in the maiden edition of the competition that will kick off on Tuesday at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure.
Olaniboji assured the participating teams and officials of their safety, adding that adequate security arrangements have been made.
“We are not envisaging anything bad, but we just have to put a preventive measure 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 set goal of contributing to the development of football in our state together.
“Our target is to discover budding talents that cut across the nooks and crannies of the state and ensure we nurture them to stardom,” he said.
A Proprietor of one of the participating teams, Mr Ayokunle Oluwatope, commended the organisers for introducing such a laudable tournament to herald talents in the state.
“My team is here to participate in the maiden edition of this competition, and we pray for a good outing,” he said.
The coach of Victory Lions FC, Bamidele Tommasson, expressed optimism that his team will host and win the competition.
Also, coach of Ijapo Ages FC, Olaleke Karimu, who recently 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.
Victory Lions will lock horns with Barracks in the opening match of the tourney, while Tubaba Football Academy tackle SGIC FC in the second match.
In group B, top seed, Ijapo Ages FC, will face Weli Weli FC and FEMA FC will go all out against CELICA FC in match day 2.