Jonathan/Sambo U-18 football tourney to commence soon

This was disclosed yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja by the National president of the Jonathan/Sambo Grassroots Football Development Initiative, Mr. Osapegun Sanmi. He said the championship which is meant for youths who are eligible to vote in the forth coming elections would start at the ward levels, local governments, States, the six geo-political […]

This was disclosed yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja by the National president of the Jonathan/Sambo Grassroots Football Development Initiative, Mr. Osapegun Sanmi.

He said the championship which is meant for youths who are eligible to vote in the forth coming elections would start at the ward levels, local governments, States, the six geo-political zones and then climax at the national level where the first three teams would have the opportunity to play against their counterparts from Germany, London and Greece.

Sanmi said the football tournament is not only for the purpose of campaign as he maintained that talents would be developed just as the ever persistent social vices would be put off or reduced to the barest minimum.

According to him, the organization’s choice of football is based on the fact that the game which has universal appeal is a unifying factor as it has the capacity to break ethnic and religious barriers.

“We settled for football because it has the capacity to unite, break religious and ethnic barriers and also attract large followership. At the end of this tournament, we would have been able to develop talents and also cut off most social vices associated with the youths”.

Sanmi said arrangements are in top gear to make the championship which is an initiative of Galaxy Sports International Ltd huge success as said Galaxy Sports International Ltd a huge success.

The technical co-ordinator for the tournament, Coach Mohammed Obafemi said it is a competition meant for U-18 players and the organizers would collaborate with officials at the grassroots to ensure that only eligible players are featured by participating teams.

The organizers said the finals of the competition would be played a day before the 2011 Presidential elections.