Soname Gave Tourney A Pass Mark As Ikosi Road Shines

Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, Honourable Kunle Soname has given the 3rd Season of MTN Lagos Street Soccer Champions a pass mark.

Speaking at the Expressway Primary School play ground, venue of the Ikosi-Isheri centre of the championship, Soname said he was impress with the organization and conduct of the streets playing at the venue.

Soname,who is a board member of the Lagos Junior League that is about to kick-off in May across the state, stated that he was so elated that the idea conceieved couple of years ago by the Governor Fashola’s administration is yielding positive results.

"This is a laudable project which I think all the states of the federation should tap from, so that youth restiveness will be a thing of the past. This year’s championship is well organized, thousands of our youths are now engaged in one thing or the other but if this lofty idea has not being put together by the government they might be somewhere fomenting troubles or committing crime which will not do the Nation any good". He said.

He charges streets within the LCDA to work hard to be counted among the first three to travel to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, stressing that a team from the council should be part of the winners of the event having came sixth at the last edition.

Anything short of the first three in this year’s edition of the tournament is not be acceptable. That is why we are encouraging them to be focused and be among the top three to qualify to watch the mundial live, is not only about the prize money or the trip, you know money is very paramount but the exposure these young boys will get also matter and it also a way of empowering them as their orientation about life will be affected positively", he stated.

In some of the played at the centre, Ikosi Road team dazzles soccer fans at the on-going 3rd season of the MTN /Lagos street soccer at the weekend.

The Ikosi Road lads with their extremely class of touch amassed 12points and 9goals in 4 matches played while Emmanuel Keshi street gathered 9points and 4goals to be in contention.

Obido Nicholas, a former Stationery Store player who served as the match commissioner at the centre, said that the matches played so far at venue have been so exciting with outstanding players that could hold their own when the big clips are down.

He called on States football coaches to come out and see good footballartistry being displayed especially at a time when the state is preparing for the zonal elimination of the National Sports Festival in Ogun State.

Obido said he was impressed with the conduct of the players as he also giving credit to the officials who are one step ahead of the others in terms of officiating at this venue.

A female referee at the ikosi-isheri centre, Bukonla Olisa, also give kudos to the players and officials of the centre, adding that the centre has been peaceful since the commencement of the championship as no misdeed or violence recorded so far.

In her word, "I think a great applauds must be accorded the ikosi-isheri and kosofe players with their teeming supporters who troop to this venue weekly to play and support their teams without bias. No doubt, they are very peaceful and wonderful people to work with". she informed.

Olisa, who is a Masters student in Philosophy in the University of Lagos, Akoka, said her passion for football made her to calve a niche for herself being a referee and in her own little way to bring sanity back to the profession.

She however advise her colleagues to see refereeing as a serious business and a profession of repute that could make or mar one’s career not forgetting to back it up with sound education like she is doing presently.