By Banji Ayoola
Determined to vitalise grassroots sports, the Ondo State Government has expressed a firm resolve to partner interested corporate organisations and individuals to push the sunshine state to the front line in grassroots sports development.
It gave its words on Saturday ahead of the 11th edition of the Ijapo Kunle Tuface Football Promotion, tagged Barrister Dotun Owanikin 2019 Competition, which is kicking off on Sunday, December 1 this year.
Government spoke at a seminar organised for participating club owners and coaches with the theme: ‘Grassroots Football Development The Way Forward 2020,’ in Akure, the state capital through the commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Dotun Owanikin.
He commended the organisers for their innovation, consistency and the great job they are doing in the state to ensure that the youth are engaged to dissuade them from social vices.
The commissioner was represented at the occasion by the Director of Sports in the Ministry, Mrs Evelyn Lebi.
Noting that all round sport is the best form of youth empowerment, he described this as part of the agenda being pursued by government till the state takes its pride of place in sports among other states.
Owanikin charged the organisers to be more proactive by moving closer to the ministry, promising that the ministry is ready to partner with and support their organisation to further develop grassroots football in the state.
Guest Speaker, ex- International Akin Olowokere who spoke on the topic, “Grassroots Football Development: The Way Forward 2020, urged upcoming stars to have passion for the game, saying passion ignites fire.
He added that talent alone would never take them anywhere. He therefore urged them to have confidence in themselves and believe in their ability, while being guided always by the 3Ds – Discipline, Dedication and Determination.
Olowokere said that football is a terminal game, and so it is important to discover talents early, and nurse them to complete their cycle; as he regretted that little isbeindg done about grassroots sports development.
Proprietor, Ijapo Kunle Tuface Football Promotion, Nigeria , Mr Ayokunle Oluwatope said the seminar was organised to brainstorm on how to address and improve on the inadequate areas discovered during the previous editions.
He said that the purpose of the competition is to discover talents from the grassroots and for the government to see reasons to believe in their own, saying the competition had produced many talents like Uzube Nnazemba, Seun Olulayo, Kehinde Adedipe and many others who are still doing excellently well in their career.
While reading the rules of the competition to the participating teams as attached to their forms, he assured them of an improved 11th edition.
He said the winner and first runner up of the competition will coast home with N50’000, N30,000 respectively together with the branded Kehinde Adedipe jersey.
Club representatives urged the organisers to improve in terms of officiating and security.
Vice Chairman of Ondo State Referee Association, Mr Femi Akinribido assured the organisers and participating teams of unbiased officiating .
The participating teams are
Group A
FEMA FC
Kingdom FC
Rising FC
Hon Adeleke FC
Group B
New Ages FC
Cottage FC
Adedipe T&K FC
Snipers FC
