Lagos State has been described as the football hub in Nigeria amid the sweeping of the two gold in the football events of the 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
This was the submission of the Technical Director of Lagos State Football Association, Tajudeen Disu, who insisted that Lagos leads while other states follow when it comes to football in Nigeria.
Disu attributed the victories to the concerted efforts of the coaches and members of the Fouad Oki-led Lagos State Football Association Board.
He said, “I am happy and delighted. Players on both teams were determined to go all the way, and they gave their all to achieve the desired results.
“I heartily congratulate them for a job well done. I salute their industry and adherence to the coaches’ instructions.
“Inasmuch as we accomplished our mission in Asaba, it is not yet uhuru because the development of the players is a continuous process that will not end with winning gold at the National Youth Games. The players will be involved in several tournaments as they move up the ladder of the profession until they are full-fledged.
“This is teamwork; everyone at LSFA contributed 200% to achieving these feats. That we won in both categories among 37 participating states shows we are making deliberate efforts to improve the game at the grassroots level, which is the best way to ensure continual development.
“This couldn’t have happened without the able leadership of the chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Mr. Fouad Oki, the vice chairman, Liameed Gafar. Kudos also go to our head coach, Adeshina Yusuf, and his assistants, Hamidi Sulaimon and Olowu Olayinka.
“The coaches are doing excellently and deserve a lot of commendations because it takes playing the role of a father to make children of that age bracket perform optimally and consistently.
“Our objective is to make Lagos the hub of Nigerian football, as it was in our time when players from Lagos formed a larger percentage of all age-grade national teams. It’s been a long time since Lagos last showed this level of dominance in national grassroots football events. So, with this achievement, we can say Nigerian football is returning home,” he said.
P.M. EXPRESS reports that Team Lagos emerged champions of the football event in the final matches of the boys’ and girls’ categories played on Friday inside the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
The State’s female football team claimed the gold medal after dispatching Ogun State by five unreplied goals in a one-sided South-West derby to claim the gold.
Peace Effiong, who netted a brace, opened the floodgate of goals on 25 minutes and doubled the lead on 35 minutes; while Kemi Adegbuyi made it 3-0 two minutes later; Ogun scored an own goal on 42 minutes; just as Rodiat Yusuf made five – nil on 45 minutes.
Having smashed Kaduna 5-0 in the semi-final on Thursday, the Lagos male football squad which was encouraged by the feat recorded by the female defeated Plateau State, 2-1 to emerge champion of the football event in the male category.
Adeshina Yusuf’s charges were expected to blow their opponents away in a similar fashion, but it turned out to be a keenly contested affair.
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