Eight teams have been approved to participate in the maiden edition of the Western Nigeria Football Forum (WNFF)/Late Taiwo Ogunjobi Memorial Under-15 Cup Competition, the organisers have said.
Tade Azeez, Co-Chairman of the competition’s Main Organising Committee, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan.
“Each state in the South-West geo-political zone of Nigeria will present a team to participate in the tournament.
”Winners of the last edition of the NPFL/LaLiga Under-15 Future Champions Football Competition, Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne and the competition’s second runners-up, Katsina United FC, will join the six teams to participate,” he said.
Azeez explained also the rationale behind picking Katsina United ahead of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, who were the NPFL/LaLiga tournament’s first runners-up.
“They are already in the competition as Oyo State team,” he said.
The co-chairman said having Katsina United in the competition would help to give the tournament a national scope.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the football tournament is scheduled to hold from Aug. 16 to Aug. 21 in Osogbo, Osun.
An awards ceremony will round up the event in the evening of the final match day.
Speaking also on the competition/awards ceremony, Dele Ajayi, who is the event’s other Co-Chairman, commended Seyi Akinwunmi, the WNFF Coordinator and First Vice-President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“We commend the initiative and efforts of Akinwunmi in ensuring that this event holds,” he said.
Ajayi noted however that, with time, the tournament would become larger and attract teams from outside the country.
“This is because the late Taiwo Ogunjobi was known worldwide and, as such, he should be accorded such honour,” he said.(NAN)
