16th May, 2013
Commssioner for Sports in Lagos, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, has advised players of the Lagos Junior League to emulate the exemplary qualities of former Nigerian international, Victor Ikpeba as they aspire to become great in football.
Oshodi, who was elected President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, NTTF on Tuesday during sports federation elections in Abuja, wants players of the Junior League to see the Prince of Monaco-as Ikpeba was fondly called in his playing days- as a role model who rose from the ranks to become African Footballer of the Year award winner.
According to Oshodi, the Lagos Junior League is the future of Nigeria football and it needs to be reciprocated across the country.
The Commissioner was given this piece of advice to the players during the award ceremony organised by the management of the League for President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Aminu Maigari, players and coaches of the Junior League at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos last weekend
Oshodi noted that the League has produced players for the nation’s Golden Eaglets and the Flying Eagles, adding that management team of the League would work with notable football technocrats in a couple of months prior to next season on the need to eradicate age-cheat, soccer hooliganism.
He explained that the presence of NFF boss at the award ceremony showed that the state is on the right track of redeeming the image of Nigerian football, stressing that in five years, the success of the League would encourage most clubs in Nigeria Professional Football League and the National League clubs to start their youth football academies.
—Taiwo Adelu