Orgnaisers of the Olori Hadijat Gbadamosi Memorial Football Competition has said that involvement of female clubs in this year’s edition was due to pressure from female coaches and players within the community.
The annual competition, which is scheduled to hold next month at Igando palace playground, Alimosho, will involve eight female clubs within Lagos.
Match coordinator, Prince Sulaiman Gbadamosi said the competition had been played by only male teams in the last seven years in remembrance of his mother who died eight years ago, but the time has come to give female players chances to take part in this year’s edition henceforth.
“I have been receiving criticism from female players and coaches even the club owners that I don’t organize female football for them in all my past competitions, but this time around, I want to consider them and give them chances to participate in this year’s Olori Hadijat Memorial Cup. We are not going to involve male teams in this year’s edition because time has come for female footballers to showcase their God-given talents and I know that the Igando community cannot wait to see them in action,” he said.
Gbadamosi revealed that there are some clubs that are showing interest. Among the interested clubs are Jojo Queens, Adex Queens, Future Stars Queens, Army Jet Queens and Define Queens.
Gbadamosi announced that the draw ceremony would hold on 25 February at Oba Igando Palace and urged club owners to come for their registration forms before closing.
“ We only have two or three clubs to join the other interested clubs because we don’t want late registration. We are using this medium to come for their registration before closing,” he said.