The August edition of the Lagos State Football Association, LSFA developmental programme, tagged Ekofootball Future Star Tournament was held last weekend at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos, with Omole Football Club beating Little Wonders Football Academy in the finals of the Under-13 category.
The monthly tournament which saw about 23 youth clubs taking part in this month’s edition had Joint Football Club of Badagry winning the Women’s Under-15 category beating Pride of Mabamu football club of Okoko.
Chairman of the LSFA board, Seyi Akinwunmi, expressed satisfaction over the standard and turnout of young boys and girls clubs, saying, most of them have the skills to make it in the round leather game in years to come and they require proper monitoring.
He however cautioned that without education they may not be able to realize their full potentials, warning them that if they don’t do well in their various schools they don’t have a place in the Eko Football Future Stars squad.
“I am very happy with the responses from all the boys and girls youth clubs in Lagos, and with the skills displayed today, I believe most of this young athletes have the potentials but they must be ready to combine their education with their football, otherwise they have no place in Lagos football,” he reiterated.
Akinwumi further revealed that about 45 talented players were discovered and picked by the State Coaches presented at the tournament, saying that, they will soon be invited for screening and more training.
He added that, they will be exposed to various tournaments within and outside the state whenever the opportunity arises, while they will be divided into teams for the special edition in October.
Also speaking is Dapo Ajayi, the LSFA Project Manager. He said, it has been a worthy experience for me seeing all these kids playing football, with what I have seen so far in the last one to two years working on this project I think the future is very bright for football in this state and the country in general.
He informed that two of the boys Elvis Oyeze and Musa Alli were discovered in the tournament and were subsequently awarded scholarships to study in the highbrow Greenspings School, while some Premiership clubs youth coaches who saw them train and play in the Kanu/Greenspings soccer camp, also recommended them to their various England Premiership clubs.
He disclosed that part of the move to further improve on the project is the board’s decision to organise coaching clinics for youth coaches to further help in improving their knowledge of the game.
“The board plans to hold a coaching clinic in conjunction with the State Football coaches Association to help and expose this grassroot coaches on the latest and best practice in youth football coaching”, He urged corporate bodies to identify with the project by coming out to sponsor and partner the LSFA in their drive to reposition football in the state.
