The Olowu of Owu-Abeokuta kingdom, Oba (Prof) Saka Adelola Matemilola in partnership with Super Eagles' former tactician, Dutchman, Bonfrere Joe is organizing a maiden edition of Under-15 football competition for cadet teams across Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital , as part of strategic moves to discover raw talents and develope the round leather game in Nigeria
Oba Matemilola during a press conference held on Thursday at his Oke- Ago Owu Palace in Abeokuta, ahead of the competition slated to kick-off on May 12,2024 , revealed that the tournament was being organized to empower the youths and harness huge potentials in them for the good of the society
"The whole idea is to start with teams from Abeokuta city, later it will be extended to other parts of Ogun State, we intend to make the competition to be a form of league competition for cadet teams (Under 15)
The monarch who is worried about not having enough grassroots competitions for discovery of huge talents in the country, says the partnership with Bonfrere Joe is to ensure that raw talents discovered at the end of the competition are properly groomed for both the under 17 national team (Golden Eaglets) and club sides in Nigerian league as part of contributions to development of sports in the country
The competition according to him, will also be used to strengthen bond of love, unity and connection among the young ones across towns in Abeokuta and the entire Ogun State, beside playing football together
The Owu paramount ruler was full of praises for patrons including the State Forestry Commissioner, Engr.Oludotun Taiwo, ace-broadcast journalist, Chief(Mrs) Funmi Wakama amongst others prominent sons and daughters of the kingdom for bankrolling the tournament
Similarly representative of the Nigeria's Under 23 male football team gold winning squad's handler at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic , Alex Okonkwo said that Bonfrere Joe foundation shared the passion of the Olowu to develop talented youngsters and groom them for greater football future in the local league before being exposed to Europe
Also speaking the State Commissioner for Sports Development, Mr. Wasiu Isiaka lauded the initiative of the monarch for holding such age-grade competition to compliment the effort of government at discovering talents at the grassroots for the development of sports in the state
He assured Oba Matemilola of the support of the State Sports Council in grooming talented players discovered at the end of the competition, promising that scouts working with the Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Gateway United Football Club will be on ground at the competition to scout for raw talents that will play for the team in the future
Engr. Oludotun Taiwo on behalf of the patrons promised to continue to support the annual competition to discover more talented footballers for the state and country at large
Coordinator of the competition, the Akinlagun of Owu-Kingdom , Chief Oluseyi Adediran announced that the team that eventually emerged as champions would be given cash prize of N200,000 in addition to having royal dinner with Oba Matemilola, second placed team will be getting cash prize of N150,000 while third place team will go home with N100,000
He urged cadet teams to register for the competition with the payment of just N15,000 at designated places, saying the final of the Oba Matemilola Under 15 Football Competition will hold later in August, as part of birthday anniversary of Olowu
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