Executive Director, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Ambassador Olutokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, has charged the Federal Government to do more for grassroots football development.
Ambassador Awolowo-Dosunmu stated this on Saturday at the Ikenne Township Stadium, Ikenne, Ogun State, at the final of the 10th edition of the Obafemi and H.I.D. Awolowo Memorial Kids Cup for U-10 (Boys)/ U-17 (Girls) and sponsored by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation in conjunction with the National Youth Soccer Association.
She stated that the competition was being sponsored as part of the initiative to promote Papa Awolowo’s legacy, ‘which is to emphasise that “every child deserves a chance in life.
“The National Youth Soccer Association (NYSA) organised this competition for young soccer talents in the country in order to give them a hobby that will take their attention away from less desirable things.
“The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation was approached for sponsorship and we quickly realised that this is the kind of what Papa Obafemi Awolowo would want to do to assist the less privileged children, help the young ones to grow upright and become somebody in life.
“We took the sponsorship upon ourselves, though we started in Lagos State, and other teams started participating and that is the team from Ibadan playing in the final today. I can assure you that we will make this competition to be played nationwide.
“We have been sponsoring this competition for years now with partnerships from other individuals and we hope as time goes on, we will be able to get partners that will be permanent so as to move further outside Lagos. The good thing is that a few of the talents discovered through this competition have made it to national teams. So in a way, we have been recording successes through the sponsorship of this competition,” she said.
Dr Awolowo-Dosumu further urged the Federal Government to do more towards developing grassroots football so as to discover raw talents rather than rely on foreign-based players.
“I believe if the Federal Government can emulate what the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation is doing, it will be fantastic, sponsoring a competition nationwide, can you imagine how many football talents are probably buried in different parts of Nigeria?
“So if this tournament has thrown up a few talents who have made it to national teams, can you imagine if it was a nationwide tournament, the country would be spoilt for choice.
“Lastly, the name Obafemi Awolowo, we are hoping would also inspire these youngsters to do good and become upright citizens,” she added.
The Chairman, Local Organising Committee for the competition, Mr Samuel Omolola, said the competition was a huge success, disclosing that they are planning to increase the number of participating teams in subsequent editions.
“Papa Awolowo is the father of the nation and the competition was organised to immortalise his good name and that is why you see numbers of children here today happy to be part of the celebration.
“Over 30 teams participated from the group stage and here we are today, to see the finalists from male and female teams,” he said.
Also, ADV Bikers NGR led over 50 bikers both from Lagos and Abeokuta to the residence of the sage, Obafemi Awolowo, on Saturday.
The bikers said they were in Ikenne to honour the foremost nationalist, as his 115-year posthumous birthday was celebrated during the week.
Meanwhile, in his remarks, Commissioner for Sports Ogun State, Honourable Isiaka Wasiu, said the competition was a welcome development for bringing the final to the state.
He said part of their focus is sports development and not only football but sports in general.
“What sports can do for us are many and you know what Papa Obafemi Awolowo stood for in terms of social development and sports in general is many and that is why we are saying we are ready to partner with the Awolowo Foundation in any possible way so that the tournament can be bigger.”
Andrew Football Academy of Lagos spanked Mighty Star FC of Ibadan 3-0 to emerge the champions in the boys category, while Ronkus Queens of Lagos Mainland, defeated Bright Stars Queens, Ibeju-Lekki 2-1 to claim the star prize in the girls category.