By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Lagos – The Executive Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Mayor Dele Osinowo, has called for an increase in grassroots sporting competitions in the council to identify and nurture talented young players. His plea came during the exciting Novelty match of the Councilor Elewedu Kids Cups Competition, held at Ajelogo Primary School in Kosofe on Tuesday.
Highlighting Nigeria’s love for football and the passion of the youth for the sport, Mayor Dele Osinowo stressed the importance of supporting and developing children’s football skills through such grassroots initiatives. He commended the organizer of the competition, Councilor Elewedu, for his commitment to sustaining the tournament over the years, aligning with the council’s vision for grassroots football development.
Mayor Dele Osinowo praised the organizer’s mission to “catch them young” and redirect the attention of children towards sports activities. He recognized the positive impact of Counsellor Elewedu’s programs on the community, emphasizing his dedication to giving back to society without any external influence. The chairman encouraged the participating children to embrace sportsmanship, as there would always be winners, runners-up, and third-place positions at the end of the competition.
In his remarks, the competition organizer, Mr. Bashir Omogbolahan Saheed, popularly known as Elewedu, expressed his motivation for organizing the tournament. He aimed to identify talented children in football within the council and provided numerous coaches to assess and discover these young talents. Elewedu also urged parents to recognize and support their children’s talents, encouraging them to continue training and organizing friendly matches even after the competition.
Beyond sports, Counsellor Elewedu highlighted his empowerment programs for market men and women, as well as widows, emphasizing his commitment to giving back to society. He reassured the community that these initiatives were not driven by a higher salary but stemmed from his desire to uplift and support others. He encouraged his colleagues to leverage their positions as representatives of the people to embark on similar projects or programs in their respective wards.
Mr. Oluwaseyifunmi, the Supervisor for Agriculture and Community Affairs of the Council, commended Councilor Elewedu’s gesture, noting that his passion for sports had been evident since his youth. He acknowledged the support received from leaders in the council and urged the continuation of such empowerment programs.
The opening matches of the Councilor Elewedu Kids Cup witnessed thrilling contests, with Ajelogo Primary School defeating Irepodun Primary School and Anglican Primary School securing a victory against Agboyi Primary School. The entertaining battle between Anglican and Agboyi primary schools ended in a one-goal thriller.
The Novelty Match between Agboyi Ketu Legislative Council (Team Elewedu) and Agboyi Ketu Executive Council (Team Mayor) showcased a display of skills, culminating in a 3-3 draw.
As the tournament progresses, the Councilor Elewedu Kids Cup promises to unveil the potential of young talents in the council, offering them a platform to showcase their abilities and contribute to the growth of grassroots football.
The event concluded with the presentation of valuable gifts to the Most Valuable Players, as Ajelogo, Anglican Primary Schools celebrated their Victories and qualified for the next round of the competition.