The respected Yoruba monarch, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Aalafin of Oyo has confirmed 24th August for the commencement of underage competition instituted for him by Links Sports which will be played at Durbar Stadium Oyo.
The grassroot soccer tourney tagged ‘Oba Adeyemi Unity Under-17 Tournanment’ would end on by 31st with more than 30 states across the federation already signified interest to participate.
The Secretary General of the sports Olumide Olabode who disclosed this to newsmen in Ibadan said the tournament was instituted out of the first class Oba’s concern for the decline in our sports especially at the grassroots.
He added that all arrangements have been made by Links Sports to stage an itch-free and memorable maiden tourney which will subsequently be coming up annually with its hosting right rotating to cover every part of the country.
Oba Adeyemi at the trophy’s presentation event held at the palace square in Oyo charged the organizer to ensure a strict compliance to the stipulated age for the tourney to correct the ills that always surround under aged sports competition.
While the sports loving traditional ruler also called on Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to monitor the tournament for talents in order to strengthen our national Under-17 team ahead of thier subsequent engagements.
Aalafin said all the stakeholders in our sport shared in the blame concerning the decline noticed in our sports.
'' We are not always sincere in implementing our grassroots sports developmental programmes, and that was why we are not getting the desired results,'' Aalafin noted.
Meanwhile, the sports body through their states’ chapters has also lined-up much other soccer competitions for the development of the game across the nation which include Dr, Agabi soccer championship Keffi zone, slated for 23rd to 17th August, National U-13 Girls Unity Cup scheduled for Oyo State between 11th to 18th August.
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