10th July, 2012
As the MTN Lagos Street Soccer Championship draws closer, Chief Coach of Pashi Street football team of Lagos Island, Hassan Tairu has appealed to the organisers to employ the services of certified referees to handle officiating of the championship.
Tairu, who tutored the Pashi Street football team to win the winners in 2009, told P.M. Sports that the only challenge the competition faced in the previous editions was lack of competent referees.
“I want the organisers of Lagos Street Soccer competition to ensure that matches in this year’s editions are officiated better than what we had in the previous editions. We can only have a good competition if officiating of the tourney is fair,” he said.
Commenting on the 0-1 defeat his team suffered to Lawal Akapo Street football team of Apapa in an exhibition match played on Sunday at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island, Tairu said he was not worried about the defeat.
“My team cannot be judged with the result of an exhibition match. It is too early for anybody to write off my team. Don’t forget that we were the 2009 champions and I strongly believe that we have what it takes to go far in this year’s edition,” said Tairu, whose target in the tourney this year is to win the cup.
Meanwhile, 840 male teams and 62 female teams will be jostling for honours in both categories.
Apart from the teams that emerge from the Local Councils and Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, religious bodies like Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG and NASFAT also registered, while groups like the
Man O’ War, Girls Guide, schools, football academies and Indian community as well as individuals also presented teams for this year’s championship.
—Sunday Akintoye