Cletus Okojie, the CEO of Cone Sports disclosed to the Media shortly after both parties signed the dotted lines that he’s delighted to partner with Amapro Football Championship.

“Amapro Football Championship has set high standards, so we’re delighted to sign this partnership agreement,” he said.

“The relationship between Cone and Amapro Football Championship is partnership between the two parties, so as to create a sustainable development for football in Nigeria.

He continued; “As a brand it is great for us to associate with Amapro Football Championship as regards the positive mileage we stand to get during the football fiesta.

“Cone Sports is a staunch promoter of made in Nigeria products that is why we take it as a responsibility upon us to make our products with the best of raw materials available, because we believe our products go beyond the coffers of this nation and when people of other countries see our products they see it as a Nigerian product not only a Cone Sports jersey,” Cletus concluded.

Cone Sports is a Nigerian sportswear company, its head office and factory are located in Kano State. The company has been producing since year 2000 which makes it the oldest and biggest sportswear brand in the country with over 40 football clubs wearing its products nationwide.

Cone Sports will kit finalists and tournament organizers at the seventh edition of Amapro Football Championship.

Shogo Shodunnke, the Amapro Football Championship General Coordinator stated; “We’re delighted to have Cone Sports as our partner.

“It goes to show how important our competition is to kit brands.”

This year’s version will be the seventh edition of the tournament with professional and amateur players expected to take part.

Competition will hold from 8th to 14th August in Ilorin, Kwara State.

NPFL All Stars, Jazzy Stars, Terwoh Sports Club, Tiyu Football Academy, AMAPRO Selected, NLO All Stars, NNL All Stars, Abraysport FC, Kwara Football Academy and Dickalo Football Academy have confirmed their readiness for the competition.

Amapro Football Championship is proudly supported by D&A Talent DSRL, D-Garden United FC, Kwara State Sports Commission, Kwara State Football Association, Kwara Football Academy, Excel All Stars, Cyteck Engineering, Afribase Nig Ltd, Afase Nig Ltd, TSTV, Dickalo Nig. Ltd and Abraysport.

In the draws and fixtures announced on Saturday in Ilorin, 16 participating teams have been paired into four groups with four teams each.

Group A have the defending champions NNL All Stars with Jazzy Stars from Jos, HMK FC from Osogbo and AMAPRO Selected Sporting Academy.

Pro Leaguers, Terworh Sports Club, Kwara Football Academy and Abraysport FC made up of teams in Group B.

Group C have ABS FC, Dickalo FA, Success Tiyu FA and DA Faria FC while Group comprises of NPFL All Stars, Gateway FC, Barrier Sport Club and Laycon FA.

The opening day fixtures will see Abraysport FC taking on Kwara Football Academy by 8am at the KFA Pitch A while ABS FC will engage Dickalo FA at the Pitch B at the same time.

Match billed for 10am of the opening day will see the Pro Leaguers taking on Terworh SC at Pitch A as Da Faria FC from Lagos faces Success Tiyu Academy at the Pitch B.

AMAPRO SSA against HMK FC (Pitch A) and Barrier SC against Gateway FA at Pitch B of the KFA are the matches fixed for 2pm on Monday.

Jazzy Stars’ encounter with NNL All Stars will be taking place at Pitch B by 4pm as the match between NPFL All Stars and Laycon FA at the Pitch A will be used for the Opening Ceremony.

Subsequent matches in group stage will also take place on Tuesday and Wednesday at the same venues while the final will be decided on Sunday 14th of August at the Main Bowl of the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin.

BrainBehind the competition, Shogo Shodunnke told newsmen in Ilorin that new grounds will be broken in this year’s edition as scouts from Europe, UK and around the world will be presents to pick exceptional talents.

Shodunnke stressed that other innovations like live streaming, players’ stats, games’ stats among others will be introduced.

He added that the championship is still open for more partnerships to make it more colorful and memorable.

NNL Allstars defeated Abraysport FC by penalties in last year’s final.

The program is organised by Vojislav Petrovic (Voja), a football manager and Director at Hotel Madison, North Macedonia and facilitated by Mr Benedict Eni.

Igwe Chikwado Charles and Abuzor Richest Chekwube have been on the radar of Benedict Eni after they impressed at the Kwara Football Academy scouting program that was attended by Southampton representatives in 2021.

The performance of Sunday Adetunji at Shkupi has been impressive in the 2021/22 season.

Clubs in North Macedonia now view the Nigerian market as a reservoir to pick budding talents, hence the reason why the Amapro Selected Sporting Academy graduates were invited to the Eastern Europe nation.

Charles and Chekwube are talented player who are capable of being on the radar in North Macedonia.

Teams like Kwara Football Academy, La Planet Academia and Amapro Selected Sporting Academy featured at the three-day Scouting Program in Ilorin.

Temidayo a creative and mercurial midfielder was picked based on his outstanding performance and enormous assists during the scouting and Abuzor had a sterling performance and was selected as best defender of the showcase.

The facilitator of the event, Mr Benedict Eni praised the participants for the class shown and promised to move few of the selected players as soon as possible.

“Some of the of the players are top class and a player like Abuzor has decently proven to the scouts that he has the quality to become a world class player.

“We will do our best to push them and contribute our own quota to help the helpless through football.

The ball playing defender was recently scouted by Mr Shogo Shodunnke at De – Missionary Soccer Academy, Ilorin.

Chekwube, 18, was the Cynosure of all eyes during his team’s training session and was immediately spotted by the award winning Phreestyle Sports CEO.

Blessed with strength and awareness, Chekwube plays like former Sevilla defender Sergio Ramos. He commands the back four very well.

Mr Shogo Shodunnke was impressed with his skills and abilities of the round leather game.

Immediately he offered to nurture his skills through Amapro Selected Sporting Academy.

Other players who have been groomed by Amapro Selected Sporting Academy are Abdulgafar Opeyemi, (FK Kauno Zalgiris), Godswill Utum Solomon (EFCC FC), Victor Aripko (Plateau United), Abdulganiyu Sulieman (ABS), Jamiu Lasoju Salman and Igwe Chikwado (Zamfara United).