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
From Streets to Stardom: Unique Futbol Academy Scouting Program Inspires Ibadan’s Young Footballers
Ibadan is buzzing with excitement as the Unique Football Academy Scouting Program kicks off, bringing together top European football clubs and talented young Nigerian players.
The four-day program, which commenced on Monday, features a delegation of four directors from prominent European teams, including two from Kosovo and one from India, led by renowned football agent Diego Martins from Portugal.
The scouting program aims to identify and select outstanding players who will be given opportunities to showcase their skills in Europe.
Successful players will be offered the chance to take their careers to the next level, with the organizers assuring them of opportunities abroad.
According to the Director of the program and founder of Unique Football Academy, Mr. Jelil Oladimeji, this is not the first time the academy has organized such an event.
“This is the 4th edition, and we are proud of the progress and impact we have made so far in terms of exposing our raw talent to the European market,” he said.
The program has already proven successful, with several players from previous editions going on to excel in European leagues. Some notable examples include Haruna Saleh with PAOK in Greece and Praisegod Emersons in Slovakia.
As the program continues, clubs are gearing up to exhibit their talents, and the future looks bright for Nigeria’s young football stars.
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