Ajoke Adefuluire Commends MTN Nigeria, L.O.C.

Lagos State Government has commended the management team of MTN Nigeria and the Local Organising Committee ,L.O.C, of MTN Lagos Street Soccer Championship for introducing age grade version to the just concluded popular, Five- A- Side Football competition.

The Deputy Governor, Adeoke Orelpe Adefuluire, says the gesture will enable the country and Lagos State to prepare for the future through discovery of talents at grassroot competitions.

She says the tournament serve as an avenue to create competition among the young football players featuring in the under 15 category due to the lucrative packages that await the eventual winner in the category.

The Deputy Governor, who is impressed with the quality of skills displayed by the young football players, says there is a need toorganise series of age grade football competition since they are the bedrock of football in Nigeria, stressing that the state government has concluded plans to construct a mini- stadium in each of the local government and local council development area.

She says, hosting the last National Sports Festival tagged EKO 2012 Games has helped the youth to have access to first- class sports facilities which according to her, has aided the growth of sports in the state, adding that other sports associations in the state would also have similar programme geared at adding value to the standard of sports.

She however, presented awards of excellence to MTN Nigeria, Access Bank, Stacco Assurance, as well as the tournament's youngest player, Afolabi Yusuf, who is seven year old.