Sports

Olympic Gold Medallist, Hails RSFL for Reviving Grassroots Football in Nigeria

Published

3 months ago

September 25, 2024

Nigeria international and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Emmanuel Babayaro has applauded the Rising Stars Football League (RSFL) for rekindling the excitement of grassroots football in the country.

Babayaro, who has long been an advocate for the development of local football, expressed his appreciation for the league’s efforts to restore the prestige of grassroots tournaments.

“We have been clamoring for the return of grassroots football with the same glamour we had during the old days, with tournaments like the Ramat Cup. Now, the RSFL has brought that back,” Babayaro said.

The former goalkeeper emphasized the importance of holistic development at the grassroots level, highlighting RSFL’s potential to lead this charge.

“For grassroots football to thrive, development must be holistic, and the RSFL is positioned to champion this growth,” he added.

Babayaro also stressed that success in grassroots football must be sustainable to have a lasting impact.

With an impressive prize of 11 million naira up for grabs, he acknowledged the RSFL as one of the biggest grassroots tournaments in Nigeria in the last decade.

“This is one of the biggest grassroots tournaments we’ve seen in the country in the last ten years. The prize money of 11 million naira speaks volumes about the league’s ambition to empower not just teams but the communities they represent,” Babayaro concluded.

The RSFL continues to receive praise for its innovative approach to nurturing talent and supporting football at the grassroots level, with the backing of influential figures like Emmanuel Babayaro underscoring its significance.

Future Guaranteed Fa will tackle New Dawn FC in the all-important final on Friday, Sept. 27 at tge MKO Abiola National Staidum, Abuja.

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Sports

Special Sports is an integral part of Mr President’s Renewed Hope Commitment to Nigerians-Olopade

Published

10 hours ago

December 23, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, says prioritising the plight of the Country’s Special Athletes is one of the integral commitments of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR, under the revamped Sports Commission.

The NSC DG stated this over the weekend when he attended the final of the first edition of the Elite Wheelchair Basketball Championship held at the National Stadium in Lagos.

The DG reiterated that every Sports will get its required attention from the National Sports Commission , stressing that the Mandate of Mr President is to ensure a sustainable Sports Economy is built by maximising the potential of every sport.

” I must state here that myself and the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko are totally committed to ensuring that you guys in wheelchair basketball, like every other para- sports, feel the impact of the renewed hope agenda of Mr President .

” This is why events of this nature , as small as it may appear , will always be appreciated and supported by the Commission.

” I am also very happy with the kind of giant strides we are witnessing with Wheelchair basketball and it has continued to grow over the years from where it was when I was the President”, he said.

The DG further hailed the organisers of the event saying, ” this is a very good one from Musibau and his wife, both who are captains of the Nigerian team, now playing in France . So for them to come back home to put this together shows how much the Sport has continued to grow in the Country”.

The Elite Wheelchair Basketball tournament saw Ogun State emerging winners after beating Oyo State in a highly entertaining final. Lagos State clinched the third place position after beating Kwara state in the third place match.

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