Youth Devt: LASG turns to sports, kick-starts yearly State-wide football tournament
…as 10 stadia awaits completion for commissioning
By Moses Adeniyi
As a strategy to optimise the teeming youth population of the State through talent discovery and to reduce the pressure of unemployment among young persons, the Lagos State Government (LASG) has constituted a yearly state-wide football tournament to get youths engaged in sports.
The initiative tagged “The BOS Youth Cup” is designed as a yearly tournament for promising football talents under the age of 21.
The competition, according to report gathered, will engage youths across all Local Government Areas/Council Development Areas within the state through a dedicated website (www.bosyouthcup.com) to draw the 20 participating teams to represent the 20 LGAs in the State.
It was gathered, the final stage of the inaugural BOS Youth Cup is scheduled to take place at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena, Onikan, with the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, handing the trophy to the winning team himself.
Stakeholders have described it as a move in the direction to evoke talent discovery while positioning the State at the cynosure of international attention for talent hunt in the sport industry.
Others described the initiative as an antidote to mitigate the rising pressure from youth unemployment which has reduced several young persons across the Country to turning to roaming the streets for mischievous misadventures.
At a Press Conference held at the State Capital, Ikeja, on Sunday to kick start the 1st edition of the BOS Youth Cup, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sports, Chief Anthony Adeyinka, said the development is a “part of the vision of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration to actively engage the teeming youths of the State for a more robust economic development.”
“This is a deliberate policy of Mr. Governor due to the very important position the youth demography occupies in the Country’s population.
“The BOS Youth Cup like other youth-based strategies of Mr. Governor is one of such opportunities for the youths of the State to explore, achieve their potentials and come into the limelight,” he said.
He added that the development will no doubt have a multiplier effect that will “directly have positive impacts on individual families, the communities and the State at large.”
Mentioning that statistics have shown that Lagos has the highest number of youth population in the demography of Nigeria, standing at 54 per cent, he said the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration has reckoned with the need to optimise the use of various interventions to address the myriads of challenges facing the youths in the State
“Mr. Governor believes that focus should be on the youth population, hence the creation of many interventions across different spheres of life, speaking to the specific needs of the youths in the State.
“The Governor also recognises the myriad challenges facing today’s youth and as government, the Govemor and his Executive team have vowed to tackle those challenges head-on in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S development agenda and 2nd Pillar, Goal 3 of the Lagos Resilience Strategy, which is a plan to prepare the youth for a challenging economy,” he said.
Describing the kick-off of the BOS Youth Cup, as one of the key programmes under the ‘THEMES’ developmental agenda strategically put in place “For A Greater Lagos,” he said, “the initiative will unlock the doors for discovering budding talents and serve as a catalyst for the development of our local league, forming the pivot for recruitment into our National team.”
“It will also empower many youths and further create business opportunities for other stakeholders with a multiplier effect on the State’s economy,” he added.
According to him, “The Tournament is designed to be ranked by the various football governing bodies with a view to making it an international event in the forthcoming years.
“We are currently working with various governing bodies to be able to achieve this,” he assured.
He appreciated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for “his acceptance and keen interest in making the tournament a reality,” while commending other football Ambassadors of the State for their commitment to the reality.
He further called on individuals and corporate organisations to align with the Administration to develop capacities for the youths and the economy.
“We also seize this opportunity to call on other eminent individuals and corporate organisations to align with us to develop our youths and our economy,” he said, calling for stakeholders’ support.
Speaking, Nigeria’s Olympic Medalist and former Super Eagle’s goal keeper, Dosu Joseph (MON), said the initiative is an empowerment opportunity for the youth by boosting talent discovery and development.
Applauding Governor Sanwo-Olu, he said more of such competitions are needed to optimise the depth of football talent in Lagos.
He further commended the commitment of the Governor towards resuscitating the National Staidum, Teslim Balogun, now known as the Mobalaji Johnson Stadium, adding that the development has revived football in Lagos.
Sport expert and licensed FIFA football Intermediary at Stellar Group, Otunba Adedapo Kujore-Olowu, said the initiative would be veritable in nurturing young talents to become productive as treasures for the State.
Describing the effort as a critical outlook for capacity development, he described the initiative “as a world youth empowerment,” with the potential to open Lagos to the global scene of sports towards attracting grants to sponsor sporting facilities.
In her words, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Administration, Titi Oshodi, said the initiate is borne by the need to bridge the gap between the youth segments in the State, which according to her, informed why the intervention would be channeled through the LGAS for registration processes.
Such segmentation, she said, “will not only be inclusive, but also functional for residents of Lagos State.”
“Except for such interventions, we cannot curb crime rate,” she said, stressing that the government “will continue to look for ways to address and curb these issues.”
SSA to the Governor on Public Private Partnership (PPP), Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, called for partnership from private stakeholders stating that beyond just the indigenes, the initiative would “contribute to the quality of lives of all who resides in Lagos State.”
She stressed that the benefits would transcend just the youth demography but would broadly stand as veritable ground for the corporate world to market their brands.
She assured the readiness of the Government to extend hands of fellowship to bring corporate entities on board for partnership, which according to her, would also form a part of social corporate responsibility to take youths out of roaming the streets.
Moreover, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sanwo-Olu, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, has disclosed that no less than 10 new stadia across the State are undergoing construction, some of which, according to him, will be due for commissioning in about eight months.
According to report gathered, the step by step processes for participation in the 1st edition of the tournament which has kick started accordingly includes: Online registration of players, coaches and scouts; Interview and engagement of coaches and scouts; Trials of eligible players (U-21 and LASSRA card) and shortlisted 23 players (three Goal Keepers and 20 outfield players) at LGAs/LCDAs; Intra-scouting matches among LGAs/LCDAs to select All Star Players for the 20 LGAs.
As gathered, the 20 LGAs will be transparently drawn into five Groups of four Teams each; Each LGAs shall play three matches in a legged league in their groups totaling six matches in a group.
The top Teams in each groups and the three best Team losers will qualify for the quarter final in a knock out format leading to the semi final, 3rd place and final matches.
Other value added programmes slated to fortify the initiative include; Seminar to outline rules and regulations for the game; Engagement of experienced sports medical personnel including ALS Ambulances; and Creating pool of Ambassadors to better sports in Lagos State and Nigeria in general, among others.
It has been gathered the matches for the competition would commence next week.
