Nathaniel Idowu’s Ajegunle Under 14 Football League Begins Saturday
By Akeem Busari
The maiden edition of the Nathaniel Idowu Foundation AjegunleU14 FootballLeague begins, Saturday at the Nathaniel Idowu pitch, Oregie Ajegunle. The football tournament which is one of the several youth-focused initiatives of the Nathaniel Idowu Foundation is in partnership with the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Sports Council.
This initiative aims to promote grassroots football development and provide a platform for young players to showcase their talents.It would be recalled that the Nathaniel Idowu Foundation has constructed 19 football pitches, including the New Maracana stadium, to support and further boost youth sports development in Ajegunle.
Speaking further on the epochal tournament, the Director-General of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Sports Council, McAnthony Anuforo Anaelechukwu, expressed his confidence that the tournament would achieve its aims and objectives, which includes unearthing new football talents in the mould of the Kanus, Okochas, Ighalos and others.
“Ajegunle is the home of sports and entertainment, and particularly, football. We’re poised to regain our place of pride, as the true home of football through such youth based grassroots initiatives,” the youthful sports administrator stated.
He added that there are prizes for the winners, as he disclosed, the prizes are N500,000, N300,000, N200,000, N75,000, N50,000, for the winner, 1st runner-up, 2nd runner-up, 3rd runner-up, 4th and 5th runner-up respectively.
The league will feature 12 teams from across Lagos State, competing over 11 weeks, with the top 4 teams advancing to a round-robin Super 4 after Week 11. The fixtures for Week 1 of matches begins 12pm with Michael May Football Academy tackling Ajegunle United Sporting Club.
Other matches are; 1:00pm: Coal City Football Academy vs. Pure Talents Football Academy2:00pm: Best of Best International Football Academy vs. Strong Dove Football Academy, 3:00pm: Bright Future Football Academy vs. Moree Wins Foundation Football Academy.4:00pm: Fortune Football Academy vs. Divinely Blessed Football Academy and 5:00pm: Young 11 Football Academy vs. Sharp Talent Football Academy.
