Copa Lagos: Organisers hail Ambode

The organisers of the forthcoming Copa Lagos Beach Football competition, Kinetic Sports, have showered praises on Lagos State Government, Akinwunmi Ambode over his support for the sport.

This year’s Copa Lagos takes place between December 8 and 10 at the Eko Atlantic.

Managing Director of Kinetic Sports, Samson Adamu, told journalists on Wednesday that Governor Ambode had been a firm pillar behind the development of beach football in the country.

Adamu who was speaking at the joint press conference organized by the Lagos State Government and Kinetic Sports at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere stressed that Ambode’s efforts were already yielding fruits for beach football.

Adamu said: “The governor has never said no to us. He gave us so much encouragement and that is why we are having a better event with every edition. Apart from the enabling environment created by the governor and people of the state, we have enjoyed his backing in all ways.

“We are happy with the governor especially because we went to some parts of the state where we also discovered some hidden talents in the game.”

Adamu added that the talents discovered will participate in the forthcoming competition as Gidi Sharks and they will be under the tutelage of a prominent Beach Soccer coach, Angelo Shirinzi, who took Tahiti to clinch silver at the last edition of Beach World Cup.

Earlier, the commissioner for Information in Lagos State, Steve Ayorinde, said Governor Ambode was supporting sports deliberately as part of the state’s drive  to use tourism, entertainment and sport to keep the state as the best in the country.

“We are proud that the state is maintaining its excellence in all areas especially in sports, tourism and entertainment. Lagos is fully committed to Copa Lagos competition as part of activities for the 2017 run-in.

“There are several other programmes to make the people of Lagos happy and Copa Lagos is key in the calendar of the state in December.”

Special Adviser to Governor Ambode on Sports, Mr Deji Tinubu, was also at the media briefing.

The 2017 Copa Lagos which will feature female celebrities for the first time will feature Arsenal Beach Soccer team, Lebanon and Spain beach soccer teams.