Corporate Nigeria appears positively disposed towards the formation of a Beach Soccer League in the country, as a number of top-drawer companies have thrown their weight behind the project being packaged by Nigeria Football Federation and Sports Solutions Limited.
Head of Events, Sports Solutions Limited and Coordinator of the Nigeria Beach Soccer League, Taye Olajide disclosed at the weekend that top brands such as Gategold (a premier sports fitness equipment dealer), Prixair Hotels and Suites and Dewluk have thrown their weight behind the efforts to kick-start a League for beach soccer.
“We are also in discussions with Globacom, Guinness Nigeria PLC, DSTV Multi-Choice and a radio station, Coolwazobiainfo FM to come on board and share the brand value of beach soccer, the hottest adaptation of the world’s most popular sport, played on soft sand.
“Beach soccer is a global brand for maximum commercial visibility, perfectly combining soccer with music and outdoor entertainment. This is an irresistible cocktail and we are confident that more brands will seek to be part of the Beach Soccer League,” said Olajide.
In a related development, the second edition of the CBN Beach Soccer Challenge Cup will hold between 6th – 8th September, 2013 at a purpose-built Beach Soccer Pitch in Zone 5, Abuja. Eight beach soccer clubs, including teams from Kogi and Anambra States, will take part, while the Beach Soccer National Team, Supersand Eagles, will make a star appearance.
It can be recalled that the inaugural edition of the CBN Beach Soccer Challenge Cup took place last year with only four clubs. The CBN Challenge Cup is one of the promotional and developmental events lined up ahead of the eventual kick-off of the Nigeria Beach Soccer League in 2014.
Nigeria has shown immense potential in the game of beach soccer, with the Supersand Eagles having played in several African Championships and FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup finals since 2006. The Supersand Eagles have won the African Beach Soccer Championship on two occasions and in 2011, reached the quarter finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Ravenna, Italy.
The team also won the inaugural edition of COPA Lagos Invitational Tournament in December 2011, eclipsing major power Brazil as well as South Africa and England, and retained the trophy last year with triumph over Portugal, Argentina and Lebanon.
