Joel Ajayi

No viewer than 16  football grassroots teams will be rumbled at the 2020 edition of the 5-Star Premier League Tourney, the 7-week of competitive football starting from 12th of September that will produce a final winner on the 24th of October 2020.

The competition that is expecting to witness some exceptional goals, amazing passes, dribbling, dazzling where spectators will be thrilled to the stupor.

Speaking during a press conference to signal the commencement of the league weekend in Abuja, the organizer Mr. Olumide Aturu said this year’s Competition is particularly unique as it is going to be an awareness campaign to correct ills like Rape, crime, and others in our society.

We are going to brand our shirts: “Say no to rape” “Sports for peace’ and we have the like of Ned Nwoko Foundation, UNESCO, NATIP, and Osasu show foundation.

“This is the grassroots initiative that we have started since, it was not easy at all, getting people together, making sure we give people dream to their career but I just want to appreciate people that believed in the process from the beginning.”

When asked if the commencement of the league will not contravene Presidential Task Force laid down the rule of the COVID-19; He replied: “I’ll like to say a big thanks to the PTF Chairman for allowing non-contact sport, we are going to follow health guideline protocols which include: social distancing, having their facemasks.

“The players will be tested before the match and also self-monitoring of each player with the mobile contact-tracing app which is the COVID-19 app with Sizekai technologies.”

On his own, the Ned Nwoko Foundation Representative at the briefing Chuks Anyaduba said the foundation is so passionate about the development of sports in Nigeria saying it was the passion that led to the birth of the first Sports University in Africa.

“Sports development in Nigeria, Africa, it’s not something you see all the time for young persons. I’ve had a series of meetings personally with the organizer and I could see so much passion from the team. That is why Chairman himself, Prince Ned Nwoko, decided to supports the initiative.

“Prince Ned has always believed in grassroots sports development. In fact, it’s something that’s so dear to him. He is so passionate about sports in Nigeria. It was this passion for sports that led to the building of the first Sports University in Africa called STARS University.

“The idea of that was to give opportunities to young persons who have talent in sports and also want to be educated. The essence of Stars University is to bridge the gap between sports and education in Africa.” He said.

Speaking on the Malaria project of the foundation, Nwoko said the initiative was launched last year, to eradicate malaria in Africa, but of course, starting from Nigeria.

“That is why we are using various strategies in implementing our objectives which is to clean up Nigeria: environmental sanitation, waste management, and fumigation. And then, vaccine development and finally ACSM—Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilization. These are some of the strategies that we tend to adopt to achieve malaria-free Nigeria and Africa.”

Speaking also, was the President of Africa Union Beach Soccer who is also a Technical Partner of 5-Star Premier League; Alhaji Mahmud Hadeji commended the organizer for the initiative and promised to do everything within his power to ensure the success of the tournament.

“I can’t wait for the tourney to start”

Meanwhile, the winner of this edition will be smiled home with N800, 000, all expenses paid trips to Dubai, a local trip to Kano, and Delta state while the highest goal scorer will be equally rewarded.

The teams that will compete for include; Console Sports FC, Bani Na Baka FC, Bichi FC, 3nity Boyz, Suicide Squad FC amongst others.

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