Sports
Ayomidiran Foundation Launches Inaugural “Girls Play Sports” Women’s Football Tournament
Joseph Ajayi
The Ayomidiran Foundation has successfully launched the inaugural “Girls Play Sports” Women’s Football Tournament, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at discovering and promoting sports development among young girls in Nigeria.
Honorable Ayo Omidiran, the C.E.O of Ayomidiran Foundation and Chairman of the Organising Committee, expressed her delight at the launch of the “Girls Play Sports” program during a press conference held at the NFF Technical Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
“This ‘Girls Play Sports’ initiative is set up to promote and empower young girls through the sport of football, aiming to provide a developmental platform, minimize social vices among young girls, and foster unity across Nigeria,” Omidiran, a two-time House of Representative member told the media.
“The ‘Girls Play Sports’ Women’s Football Tournament is more than just a tournament; it is a movement aimed at fostering equality, building confidence, encouraging a healthy lifestyle, and providing gainful opportunities through sports among our young girls. By involving grassroots teams from both the North and South of Nigeria, we seek to minimize social vices among young girls and promote a spirit of unity and inclusivity through the love of football.
“With the support of the Nigeria Football Federation, our partners, and women’s football stakeholders, we aim to create a lasting impact on these young girls’ lives. We are excited about the journey ahead and look forward to witnessing the massive girl-child talent discovery and development that will emerge from this championship.”
Dr. Muhammad Sanusi, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, who also represented the NFF President, hailed the initiative and its alignment with the administration’s agenda for women’s football development, while lauding Honorable Omidiran for her pivotal role and remarkable contributions in supporting the women’s game.
“To us at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), this is a welcome idea. The board of the NFF keys into the FIFA vision of football development with various league programs and a focus on ‘catch them young,'” the NFF scribe said.
“This is the right step in the right direction. This program will greatly impact the grassroots and help to elevate the standard of women’s football in Nigeria. I will ensure that the Director of the Technical Department and Competitions identifies with this laudable program.”
“We cannot thank the Proprietor of Ayomidiran Foundation enough. It is not surprising that you are doing this because we know that she is one of the pioneers of women’s football in Nigeria. We cannot forget the exploits of Omidiran Babes and the role she played when she was in the National Assembly to ensure peace and harmony in Nigerian football.”
The inaugural championship will run from August 30 to September 30 2024, with eight teams making it to the Northern and Southern playoff finals from the preliminary round in the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Registration is free and will only open to non-league clubs via the Ayomidiran Foundation website (ayomidiranfoundation.com) from July 24 and will close on August 23. Teams will have one month to train and prepare, with a maximum of 30 players per team. Draws and fixtures will be determined after the registration period ends.
Sports
Super Eagles Can Secure Six Points Against Benin Republic and Rwanda – Barrister Alli
Barrister Rotimi Alli, Chairman of the Ibadan Football Council, has expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ ability to secure the maximum six points in their upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
Speaking at the September edition of the Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association virtual interactive session, “Guest of the Month,” Barrister Alli, popularly known as Libero, emphasized that the team’s success depends on the players’ determination and willpower.
“It’s not about the coaches; it’s all about the boys,” he stated. “With only two or three days of preparation, there’s little the coaches can do. It’s the players’ mindset that will determine the outcome. They must decide among themselves that they want to win.”
Barrister Alli believes that the caliber of players in the Super Eagles squad is more than capable of achieving success. “Considering the quality of players we have, there’s nothing stopping us from qualifying for the Nations Cup and the World Cup,” he added.
The Super Eagles will face Benin Republic and Rwanda in crucial AFCON qualifiers this weekend, and Barrister Alli’s optimism is a testament to the team’s potential. With the right mindset and determination, the Super Eagles can secure the maximum points and take a significant step towards qualifying for the major tournaments.
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