By Niyi Alebiosu
President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has assured the organisers of the Ex-Internationals Cup of his unwavering support throughout the tournament.
The NFF boss gave this assurance on Friday during the Ex-Internationals Cup draw conference held at the NIS conference hall, Lagos.
Gusau, who was ably represented by a member of NFF, Aisha Falode, at the event, first and foremost thanked Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) under the leadership of Hajji Gafar Liameed for this initiative and noted that the Ex-Internationals Cup is a platform or avenue for the legends to mentor and nurture the young players to stardom.
Gusau, in his goodwill message to the legends, expressed his appreciation to the legends for their contributions during their active days in the national teams and urged them to use their wealth of experience to educate and nurture the young players who are inspired to become professional players during the competition.
He also acknowledged the sacrifices the ex-Internationals made during their active days and challenges facing the legends, saying that the NFF would do everything possible to support the Ex-Internationals Cup to make this year’s edition a memorable one.
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“We want to thank our legends for their contributions to the national teams during their active days in football.
“Our legends have been sacrificed for the country, and we admit that many of them are facing one challenge or another. We want to assure them our support, and whatever support we can give to this competition, we will do it.
“On behalf of the NFF President, I wish our legends best of luck and good luck in their outings,” said Falode, who ably represented the NFF President during the Ex-Internationals Cup draws held on Friday in Lagos.
In his own comment, Senior Special Assistant On Grassroots Sports Development, Adeyinka Adeboye, thanked Bet9ja Foundation for its immense support given to the Ex-Internationals Cup and urged the legends to see this competition as a friendly, not a do-or-die affair.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Ogunlende showered praises on ex Internationals for their contributions to football development in the country, saying that their role in football development in the country cannot be ignored.
He explained that the government alone cannot run sports and called for collaboration with the private sectors for collaboration in the area of sports and youth development in the state.
He went further to appreciate the role of media in sport development and urged the media organisations to give the tournament the necessary support to ensure that the tournament records huge success.
In his welcome address, the chairman of Lagos State Football Association LSFA, Hajji Gafar Liameed, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Bet9ja Foundation for its financial support and extended his appreciation to the legends who are committed to the tournament.
He also thanked the Lagos State Sports Commission and members of LSFA for their support to make this historic event a memorable one.
Liameed used the event to remember the two late legends, Peter Rufai and Henry Nwosu, who participated in the last edition and humbly asked the participants and guests to observe a minute silent to the past heroes.
He further described the late legends as committed and loyal players to the national team during their active days and prayed for the deceased families the fortitude to bear the loss.
Meanwhile, a total of 32 teams are expected to feature in the home and away knockout format. Participating legends were asked to adopt a football club, and they would be in charge of the team during the tournament.
During the draw ceremony held on Friday, some interesting legends were drawn to meet each other as FC Expo face FC Ipaye, FC Festus Odini would clash with FC Victor Ikpeba, while FC Udeze tackle FC Ugbade in another game, which promises to be interesting and entertaining.
