…as Fatodu urges state actors to help bolster schools’ sport
The Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila U-16 Football competition with fifteen matches fixture to last a month and that targets the discovery of budding football stars in Secondary Schools across Surulere area of the state has been unveiled by Hon. Desmond Elliott.
Elliot, a third-term Lagos lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly made this disclosure at a news conference to commemorate the kick off of the tournament on Thursday in Lagos, that 16 school teams would participate in the tournament.
The matches will feature secondary school teams as the winners through the first, second, third group place and the final will contend for worthwhile prizes and golden trophies.
The opening match of the tournament will be played by the New Estate Baptist team and Lagos Progressives team.
Speaking on the objective of the tournament, Elliott, Chairman, House Committee on Works, said that the needs of school children should not be neglected notwithstanding the current socio-economic challenges.
“We have been doing different things in our community trying to alleviate current hardship, but we also want to let the kids know that we are also with them.
“We should not deprive them of their health, fitness, and their happiness. This is also part of efforts to engage students and shift their minds from social vices.
“We have so many vices these days that are prevalent in our schools, such as drug abuse, cultism, cyber crime, bullying, inter-school fights, and the likes which we must address” Elliott said.
According to him, the tournament will also serve as an opportunity not just to talk to the school children but also to listen to them on issues affecting them.
“How we can help them in understanding certain things? It is another time of interaction with them for one full month.
“We are hoping that through this kind of exercise, we will get future great footballers and the likes,” the lawmaker, whose office is organising the tournament, said.
According to him, the tournament will kick off Oct. 31 with group matches among selected schools in Education District IV.
The lawmaker, after the draws for the competition, gave out new jerseys, shin guards, boots, footballs, and then first aid kits including bags to every team.
He said that the organisers were collaborating with the Lagos State Sports Commission to use the opportunity of the tournament to identify great talents.
The lawmaker noted that the event would also feature a symposium on Nov. 15. Asked if the competition is about the boys alone, Elliott said that the next phase of the tournament would have a different mix, as the female tournament will run concurrently with that of the male to ensure gender parity.
He said that the symposium would bring together footballers, actors and musicians, among other dignitaries, to educate and excite the students.
According to him, the grand finale with prize-giving ceremonies will hold on Nov. 24 and would be graced by dignitaries, including the Chief of Staff, Rt Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
Also speaking, the Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Lekan Fatodu ,said that the tournament would provide an opportunity for intersection of sports and the development of our young people.
According to him, the competition is an opportunity to enhance young children’s skills and help realise their potential.
Commending the organisers, Fatodu said that sports remains a very vital tools to engage the youth.
He said: “It is important for us to continuously, consistently engage them in the most positive way.
“And sport provides an opportunity for effective engagement of our young people and this is just an opportunity.
“Now, we are going back to the conversation around school sports development and there’s no better way to do it than the intervention of state actors.”
According to him, people who have the means, the political will and influence must invest in youths’ development through sports to showcase what young people can achieve.
“We must give them (students) the opportunity to develop their skills by providing the necessary equipment and facilities for them to operate,” he said.
Fatodu described the competition as one of the best things out of Surulere community.