Ex Nigerian Internationals Hail LDFA

Over one thousand kids from sixteen primary schools from five local governments converged at the Campos Stadium, Lagos Island on the Independence day for the second edition of the Lagos Divisional Football Association/Lagos Channel Management Under 13 Soccer tournament tagged Goalz School Event.

The event orginally designed to elevate the status of grassroot football within the jurisdiction of Lagos Divisional Football Association,LDFA, greeted the attention of former Nigerian internationals whose presence litted the tournament as the pupils were impressed to watch them exhibiting their skills in a novelty match against the LCM football team.

Ago Egba Primary School, Ebute Metta won the tournament courtesy of three goals to nothing through Phillip Keating, Phillip Joseph and Samuel Adeleye  in a Five - A- Side  football compeition against Saint George Boys Primary School as Saint Agnes Primary School spanked Nanti Community  Primary School to settled for the third place trophy.

Despite the inability of his team, Saint Agnes Primary School to qualify for the final, Akinsara Taiwo, was adjudged as the Most Valuable Player, whie his compatriot Ayinde Quam won the Highest Goal Scorer Award as Adigun Olorunlogbon grabbed the Best Save Hands Award while Taiwo Adelu of PMNEWS won the Best Sports Journalist Award just as Ruth Okafor got the Best Referee Award.

Managing Director of Lagos Channel Management, Danny Fuchs, who regarded the Independence day as a unique day meant for the kids, said the company decided to partner with the Lagos Divisional Football Association to provide a platform for the primary school pupils to engage themselves in a football competition to add value to football development in Lagos.

"People can come together watch the activities to see the children are enjoying themselves this is my opinion I thinnk this is actually what we decided to do and as you can see this is very nice and every year I want more people to come."

"This is the second day we are sponsoring this event from my perspective, Independence day for a country is a very unique day.

"The first day that I came here actually I have spent five years in Nigeria and the first two years I was asking my people from the company what are the Nigerian Kids doing during the Independence day and the answer was actually there is nothing unique to be done."

"This is the small thing the company is doing for the children in Lagos to do this kind of event."

Fuchs, who was elated over the event, said Nigeria was blessed with talented football players who could become the world best in football if they are wsll harnessed, stressing that Nigeria's save hands, Vincent Enyeama, Yakubu Aiyegbeni were some of the nation's product that had proven their worth while playing in the Isreal League.

"Your national goalkeeper Mr Enyeama is one of the greates goalkeepers in Isreal."So i believe in Nigerian football,they are very good and I think the players need to do more team-work."

"Several of the guys used to play for our League Yakubu , Jay Jay Okocha, and so on you have the potential to be one the best football player in the but somebody needed to take all of you together make you a team.

"But this year what i know from the record the event has more people compared to last year so I am happy that this event is for children and the children are enjoying and they will like more people to come for this event so it's going to be better every year."

Chairman of the LDFA, Prince Ifalade Oyekan, said the association was looking beyond giving a casp prize to the eventual winner as plans are in top gear to provide huge project either a bore - hole or renovation works, stressing that they intend to institute an everlasting structure that would be beneficial to the pupils as well as the school's management.

Prince Ifalade, said the association decided to delve into primary schools in a bid to encourage the pupils toembarce education while into active sports, hence the reason why the LDFA has concluded plans to provide a laudable project in the school that wins the event.

According to him, the presence of the Nigerian former internationals was to lit the event and also to encourage the pupils on the need to focus on their education while playing football,stressing that the association would not relent in its efforts in adding value to the LDFA/LCM Under 13 Soccer Cup.

To former Nigeria's Atlanta Olympic Team, Teslim Fatusi, the LDFA under Prince Ifalade Oyekan, has been able to provide the basic ingredient needed for the development of football in Nigeria because grassroot football is the bedrock of the nation's football.

Fatusi, said the nation had paid much attention to the national teams, neglecting the grassroot football,stressing that the competition should an avenue for the concerned football authorities to regenerate the standard of football in the country.

Ibeh Johnson,who had played for Stationary Stores of Lagos and Iwanyanwu Football Club of Owerri, said the Nigeria Football Association through its affiliated bodies delve into similar programme with the view of changing the face of Nigerian football.

 Honourable Commissioner,Youth, Sports and Social Development,Barrister Wahid Enitan Oshodi and his compatriot Honourable Commissioner, Education, Barrister Olayinka Oladunjoye and the sponsor, Lagos Channel Management were honored with awards of excellence.