Players talk tough over their chances of winning as Lagos Street Soccer berths

Posted : 16 October 2023

As Lagos Street Soccer kicks off in Lagos, teams and players are already talking tough about their chances of winning the competition, which began in Lagos on Sunday.

The players, in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the opening ceremony, expressed readiness for the 16-week-long competition.

The Lagos Street Soccer was inaugurated on Sunday at Obele Oniwala mini-stadium, Lawanson.

It was a festival of football at the Obele Oniwala mini-stadium as the 2023 Lagos State Street Soccer Championship witnessed a series of ceremonial games featuring men, women, and U-15 boys' teams selected from across Lagos State.

Lagos Mainland-based Wazbak defeated their opponents Middlewell from Lagos Island 2-1 in the women's game.

Also, Dolphin High School defeated Kings College 2-0 in the U-15 match.

In the men's game, Ayo Davis Street, Surulere, lost to BogunBolu FC Street FC, also by the same margin, 2-0.

One of the players, from Dolphin High School, Daniel Olalere, said that his team was ready to be the next winners of the tournament.

"I have been training for the competition since it was announced, myself and the team are well prepared and we are ready.

"I have been playing street 4-aside on our street before now, and I have participated in street sets before. I believe my team is up to the task," he said.

Another player, Taofeek Raheem, from Gbongboti Street, Surulere, was optimistic about his team's chances of winning the competition.

"Street soccer coming to Surulere is a great thing. We have upcoming and fantastic players on our street who are ready to do the job.

"Before this time, we have been playing different sets and contributing money for our own competition, now that we have it as a competition, we are likely to have a different approach.

"This competition will spur us for better organization, and now we don't want anything other than to win this competition this year.

"I am not just saying it, we have the desire and the ability to win, and maybe our victory over the other team today can make people know about our preparedness," he said.

For Nurudeen Okoya, losing the first match against Bogunbolu FC is an eye-opener to correct their mistakes.

"It is a great honor to be part of this edition of Lagos Street Soccer because we have been expecting it and training hard; we are happy about its eventual kick-off.

"Team Obele is expected to go far in this competition. We had our exhibition match to kick off the tournament, and we lost, but regardless, we are expected to go far.

"We have seen what we played and analyzed it ourselves, next time we will do better," he said.

The event was witnessed by Chairmen of some Local Government Areas across Lagos and also had in attendance the Honourable Commissioner of Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunleke, and Chairman, Lagos State Football Association, Fuad Oki.

Ogunleke, speaking during the event, lauded the organizers for putting up a colorful show.

He advised Lagos youth to step out of their comfort zones rather than wait for white-collar jobs.

The youthful commissioner also charged them to take advantage of opportunities that initiatives such as street soccer present.

In the same vein, the Chairman of the Lagos Street Soccer Championship Committee, Bolaji Yusuf, expressed his satisfaction at the turnout as he promised a seamless competition when it kicks off later this month.

The Chairperson of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA and co-chairman of Lagos State Street Soccer Championship, Mayoress Samiat Abolanle Bada, said the championship was in line with the mandate of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

According to her, the grassroots event will provide a vista of opportunities for youth around Lagos.

Players talk tough over their chances of winning as Lagos Street Soccer berths

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics