7th March, 2013
Organisers of Teslim Akanni ‘Thunder’ Balogun Memorial U-17 Football Championship have announced the sum of N425, 000 as prize money for the championship.
The competition, which will be played at the Police Barracks playground, Igbogbo, Ikorodu from next weekend, will feature 24 teams. The tourney is organised by Community Youth Sports Development Organisation, Ikorodu Chapter.
Chairman of the organising committee, Anthony Orhiaran, said at a press conference held at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos yesterday that the overall winners will go home with a trophy and the sum of N200, 000 with two balls, while first and second runners up will go home with N120, 000 and N75, 000 respectively with two balls each. Fourth place team will receive N30, 000 and two balls. Orhiaran said the competition is organised to remember Nigerian football legend, Teslim Balogun and to develop the talents of the youths in the round leather game.
Speaking on behalf of the Teslim Balogun family, Engineer Olamide Balogun said the family will continue to support the game in Lagos State and indeed Nigeria where their father showed a lot of passion for the sport.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo urged the teams to put in their best for the development of the game and on his part donated 30 balls to the organizers for the competition.
National chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Yisa Bashorun announced a cash prize of N50, 000 for the Most Valuable Player MVP of the competition yearly.