30 States For Alaafin U-17 Cup

The respected Yoruba monarch, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Aalafin of Oyo has confirmed 24 August for the commencement of underage competition instituted for him by Links Sports which will be played at Durbar Stadium, Oyo.

The grassroot soccer tourney tagged ‘Oba Adeyemi Unity U-17 Tournament would end on 31 August with more than 30 states across the federation already signified interest to participate.

The Secretary General of Links Sports, Olumide Olabode said the tournament was instituted out of the first class Oba’s concern for the decline in sports especially at the grassroots.

He added that all arrangements have been made by Links Sports to stage a hitch-free and memorable maiden tourney which will subsequently be coming up annually with its hosting right rotating to cover every part of the country.

Oba Adeyemi at the trophy’s presentation event held at the palace square in Oyo charged the organiser to ensure a strict compliance to the stipulated age for the tourney to correct the ills that always surround under aged sports competition.

While the sports loving traditional ruler also called on Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to monitor the tournament for talents in

order to strengthen our national Under-17 team ahead of their subsequent engagements.

Aalafin said all the stakeholders in our sport shared in the blame concerning the decline noticed in our sports.

“We are not always sincere in implementing our grassroots sports developmental programmes, and that was why we are not getting the desired results,’’ Aalafin noted.