NYSA, Awolowo Foundation organise U-10 Boys, U-16 Girls cup competitions

All is now set for the fourth edition of the Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Under-10 Boys Cup and the recently renamed HID Awolowo Under-16 Girls Cup competitions.

Disclosing this was the Secretary of the National Youth Soccer Association, Mr. Ganiyu Aliyu, at a press conference heralding the kick-off of the competitions on Thursday.

Aliyu, flanked by the Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu and other executive members of the association, said youth football clubs in Lagos and Ogun states would be participating to mark the remembrance anniversary of the Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his wife, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo.

He said the competitions would afford national coaches the opportunity to discover football talents.

Aliyu assured that the competition would produce talented players like soccer stars like Obafemi Martins, Taiye Taiwo and Dele Adeleye.

“The main aim of this association is to help in discovering and developing young talented players through the staging of various competitions. We took into consideration the role played by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his wife, they contributed a lot to the development of youths in Nigeria. They also had the love of the youths in mind during their days,” he added.

He said further that the competitions will start on February 19.

Dr Awolowo Dosumu, in her remarks added that the final matches of the competitions will be played at the Ajele Stadium, Lagos, on March 10 by 3p.m.

She promised that the Foundation would fashion out ways to parade stars discovered in previous editions of the football competition.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of trophies by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation to the association.