EIGHT (8) teams have qualified for the quarter-finals of the ongoing maiden edition of the Eti-Osa Youth Tournament holding at the Ajiran Mini-Stadium in Lagos.
The competition organised and bankrolled by top sports betting outfit, Bet9ja started with 16 teams at the weekend with all the teams kitted by the sponsors.
Having played the preliminary stages on a knock-out basis, the quarter final fixtures at the weekend will feature Ajah vs Ikota, Jakande vs Takwa-Bay, Okun-Ajah vs Agungi and Ajiran vs Badore.
At a press briefing which preceded the competition, Bet9ja Master Agent in Eti-Osa LGA, Clement Atakpo said the competition is aimed at providing the avenue for young players in the area to showcase their talents to the world.
“The competition is Bet9ja’s initiative to identify and sponsor specific empowerment program in all the localities where they have their super agents. So the project will gradually spread across the state.”
“Here in Eti-Osa, the youths are passionate about football and Bet9ja has provided the platform for them to develop it as well as keep them off the street and bad habits.”
Project Consultant, Opeyemi Lawal, a FIFA players’ agent with UEFA B Coaching Licence said the competition will be a yearly event which could progress into full talent hunt project in the future.
“This is the pilot scheme and we plan to select the best players in the competition to form a team for the Eti-Osa area. We intend to give them routine training and support for them to keep getting better,” Lawal said.
Prize money for the winner is N150,000, the first runners up will get N100,000 while the 2nd runners up will go home with N75,000. There will also be prizes for the highest goalscorer, the most valuable player, the best goalkeeper and fair-play award after the tournament.
Preliminary knock-out result are: Igbokushu 2-3 Ajah (penalties), Ajose Adeogun 0-2 Ikota, Jakande 3-1 Sangotedo, Takwa-Bay 4-1 Maruwa, Okun-Ajah 1-0 Ikoyi, Agungi 5-0 Victoria Island, Ajiran 2-0 Obalende, Badore 5-3 Igbo-Efon (penalties).
The tournament will round up on Sunday, July 14.
By Sulaiman Alao
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