MTN Lagos street soccer championship enters second phase

The street soccer tournament which is a grassroots talent discovery programme of the Lagos State Government sponsored by MTN Nigeria Limited  has no doubt lived up to the sponsor’s objective of enriching lives, creating opportunities and nurturing talents. In a chat with sportswriters after guiding his team to this stage, Kayode Fatusi, the Team Manager […]

The street soccer tournament which is a grassroots talent discovery programme of the Lagos State Government sponsored by MTN Nigeria Limited  has no doubt lived up to the sponsor’s objective of enriching lives, creating opportunities and nurturing talents.

In a chat with sportswriters after guiding his team to this stage, Kayode Fatusi, the Team Manager of Fatusi Street, one of the qualifying teams said the road to the round of 62 has been tasking. “It has not been easy getting to this stage, but we have managed because we are very determined. It is the same determination that we are relying upon to see us through to the very end.”

It could be recalled that a total of 588 teams registered for the competition with each team comprising of 10 players. Also, it engages over 300 youths to clear the pitches across the various locations. Aside this, there is a team of medical experts that consist of doctors and nurses who are always on ground at the match venues with their ambulances to attend to cases of injuries and give first aid treatment.

Other MTN innovations on display at the match venues are referees many of whom are not older than 19 and of both male and female gender. There is also a pool of young people who are specially trained to run live match commentaries.

Speaking on this noble and novel idea, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, said there is no gain saying that the future of any nation that hopes to be great lies in her ability to invest positively in the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.