5th January, 2015
Taiwo Adelu
While many Nigerians were at home enjoying the New Year celebrations, Governor Babatunde Fashola, his friends in the All Stars International Football Club of Lagos, some Super Eagles players on end of the year holidays and former Nigerian internationals were at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island trading tackles for the less privileged in the society.
The event tagged Football For Hope, organised by the Office of the Special Assistant on Football Matters to the Governor headed by Mr. Anthony Adeboye and sponsored by 1960Bet.com, saw Fashola’s team, nicknamed BRF Team, fail to sparkle as they lost 1-0 to the Eagles All Stars captained by Seattle Sounders star, Obafemi Martins.
The Campos Stadium was jam packed with fans who came to watch the array of stars paraded by Fashola’s team. They included the U-23 Eagles’ assistant coach, Fatai Amoo, Victor Agali, Jonathan Akpoborie, Gbenga Okunnowo and Godwin Okpara. They conceded the lone goal scored by Martins in the first half of the friendly match before Governor Fashola was introduced in the second half.
Initiator of the programme, Mr. Adeboye said the event was packaged so that football stars would come to their community to adopt the less privileged children. He praised the enthusiasm showed by the players who played in the match and commended Governor Fashola for leaving his busy schedule to grace the occasion.
Other stars that played in the Eagles All Stars were Asisat Oshoala, Lukman Haruna, Babatunde Michael, Razak Omotoyossi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Onome Ebi and John Dosu.
In another match decided during the event, Managers FC beat Team Lagos SWAN 3-0.