The sole financier of Ottasolo Pre Season Tournament made this known to reporters before the CAF Confederation Cup game between Kwara United and AS Douanes at Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Sunday.

Organizers have mapped out plans to make the second edition of the competition become glamorous.

“I will continue with the private preseason tourney in Nigeria but this year’s tourney is going to be will be in a new dimension. We have coined it “Ottasolo Support Tinubu Tournament”. It is going to come up very soon,” Otunba Gabriel Davies informed the Media on Sunday.

“We would continue invite big clubs in the country from the NPFL, NNL and some teams from the Academies.”

“We are planning to make sure the event is explosive in terms of numeration. The official press conference of the competition will hold at Eko Hotel, with Mobolaji Johnson Arena expected to be venue of the tournament,” he added.

Tournament coordinator, Kola Daniel Adeyanju explained more on the competition. The SA Media to the Honorable Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare declared what teams stand to gain.

“For the preseason tourney we actually started it last season, it was more of a preparatory ground,” Kola Daniel said.

“For us Ottasolo tournament has come to stay, last season produced more than six players who went on to play in the National U20 and U17 teams respectively.

“Boluwaji Sholumade who was part of Ladan Bosso’s team who won the WAFU B tourney in Niger as well as Ifeanyi Ogba who scored nine goals with Lobi Stars last season who has now joined Akwa United”

“This is to tell you that the Ottasolo tourney has come to stay in terms of producing talents and exposing them and also giving back to the society because there would be economic activities where the tournament will be played.

“The second edition will be top-notch because we are expecting twelve teams and each will receive five hundred thousand naira (500,0000) as appearance fee. We feel it is the best way to go.”

“The tournament will commence in two weeks time here in Lagos state because Lagos is the home of football and countless players have come out of the state,” Kola Daniel concluded.

He made this remark, representing the Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Sunday Dare at the launch of BleanQ, a contactless technology system in Abuja.

He stated that digital technology has eased life and the way the world operates, as he charged Nigerian youths to ensure early diffusion of innovation, which holds a huge chain of value to the nation’s economy.

“Contactless technology, Near Field Technology e-commerce e-transactions have changed how the world operates and this comes with huge economic benefits. Youths in Nigeria must embrace this new way of life. This is the future and the future is here”, he remarked.

Delivering the Minister’s address at the event, he encouraged the youth to imbibe good virtues, as well as model their digital knowledge around the paths of I.T giants in the world, of which Zkyte Technologies are exemplifying.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports led by my principal, Hon. Sunday Dare has initiated programmes aimed at equipping the youth with digital skills because he acknowledges the need to build digital knowledge and bridge the digital divide amongst youth”, he added.

The contactless technology system promotes eliminating physical distances and building an online presence that merges business profiles, centralizes transferable data and ease information transfer and access.

Chief Sunday Dare, Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports has called on the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF to ensure the Super Eagles qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Chief Dare gave the charge on Sunday during the Extraordinary Congress of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF in Benin, Edo State.

The Super Eagles will commence their 2022 World Cup qualifications with double header matches in September against Liberia and Cape Verde.

Chief Dare who was represented by his media aide, Kola Daniel at the Congress noted that the NFF must draw plans to made the country’s youth teams participate and perform well at age grade competitions adding that the Federal Government would soon inaugurate a committee that will draw up a 10 year master plan for football development in Nigeria.

“I wish to use this medium to urge the football family most especially the Nigerian Football Federation about the World Cup qualification which is at the door step. We are starting our first World Cup qualifying match early next month and it is expected that we take the matches seriously and prepare very well so that we can as well qualify for the World Cup in Qatar 2022.

“We have two matches to play in the month of September, the match against Liberia and Cape Verde. I want to state here that we should avoid permutations at the dying minute. We should get ready to pick maximum points when needed at the early stage of the qualifiers so that we will not find ourselves in a tight corner.

“Consequently, I want to also use this medium to wish you a fruitful deliberation in your Congress and come out with plans that can as well bring about the growth of football in the country. The grassroot football should be one of your major focus so we can as well present a formidable team that would bring about podium performance in the U17 and U20.

The NFF remains the lead organization in football development and it must retool for the work ahead. I am sure this NFF leadership can do it if they want to do it.

The FG Committee on 10-year football master plan will soon be announced

“If you can genuinely put the country at heart in your Congress, we will continue to get it right as far as football is concerned. I wish you great deliberations.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Sunday Dare has revealed that Federal Government will soon unveil 10 year master plan to reposition football in Nigeria.

Chief Dare stated this at the Extraordinary Congress of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF in Benin, Edo State on Sunday.

The number one games’ master in Nigeria who was represented by his media aide, Kola Daniel noted charged the federation to put necessary strategies in place to ensure Nigeria qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar just as he assured the congress of government’s continued support.

“I would have loved to be in your extra ordinary Congress considering the vital role football play in our dear country, but I just arrived the country barely 24 hours before the Congress.

“I wish to use this medium to urge the football family most especially the Nigerian Football Federation about the World Cup qualification which is at the door step. We are starting our first World Cup qualifying match early next month and it is expected that we take the matches seriously and prepare very well so that we can as well qualify for the World Cup in Qatar 2022.

“We have two matches to play in the month of September, the match against Liberia and Cape Verde. I want to state here that we should avoid permutations at the dying minute. We should get ready to pick maximum points when needed at the early stage of the qualifiers so that we will not find ourselves in a tight corner.

“Consequently, i want to also use this medium to wish you a fruitful deliberation in your Congress and come out with plans that can as well bring about the growth of football in the country. The grassroot football should be one of your major focus so we can as well present a formidable team that would bring about podium performance in the U17 and U20.

“The NFF remains the lead organization in football development and it must retool for the work ahead. I am sure this NFF leadership can do it if they want to do it.

The FG Committee on 10-year football master plan will soon be announced.

“If you can genuinely put the country at heart in your Congress, we will continue to get it right as far as football is concerned. I wish you great deliberations.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF in a release on Thursday announced a 15 member organizing committee headed by the federation’s vice president, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi to put in place a befitting tournament named after the First Lady of Nigeria who will be held in Lagos State.

Kola who said the appointment came as a surprised to him as he’s the SA Media to the Minister of Youth and Sports noted that its a call to serve and contribute his quota to the development of sports in his fatherland just as he thanked the leadership of the NFF for the opportunity.

According Daniel, “It gladdens my heart to know that the NFF has appointed me as member of Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament.

“Some people says its a reward of hardwork and I’m happy with it. That will be spur me to do more, this actually came as surprise knowing fully well that I’m the media aide to the Honorable Minister of Youths and Sports and this is an international competition.

“It is expected of one to put in his best with the responsibility that one had been saddled to do, to discharge it effectively.

“I will look forward to the tournament with full of vigor and excitement to contribute my own quota to my fatherland because this is a national duty and there’s nothing one can do than to do his best,” he said.

Terms of reference giving to the tournament committee apart from staging a tournament that will uphold
the good name and image of the Federal Republic of Nigeria includes to liaise with the Lagos State Government with a
view to ascertaining the readiness of all facilities and equipment for the Tournament, and to advise in good time where necessary for upgrading and renewal of such facilities/equipment. Work in tandem with the Lagos State Government with a view to determining and ascertaining the materials, implements, instruments and accoutrements that are needed in the areas of transportation, accommodation, security, medical, stadium preparation, information technology, protocol and ceremonial, and other organizational areas and also handed the responsibility to liaise with NFF’s Partners, Sponsors and Supporters, and other interested corporate entities, with a view to sourcing funds for the successful
organization of the tournament.

From the start point ‘welcome to ogbomoso to the end, ‘Recreation club’, over 500 athletes raced through the land receiving envious glances from all the thrilled spectators and onlookers.

Expressing his delight at the turn out of the youth and the accompanied enthusiasm, the Minister of Youth and Sports development,Mr. Sunday Dare who was ably represented by his media aide,Kola Daniel commended the organisers of the race and reassured his committment to the development of sports at the grassroots level.

In his words,”The Minister believes in the talents and potentials we have in the country and he is committed to making this event hold annually “.

He reemphasized the need to be consistent in the focus on the grassroots in a bid to discover more talents that will make  the country proud in no distant future.

Earlier in his remarks, the chairman of the organising committee, Prince Oyebamiji Aderemi Joy appreciated all the stakeholders and especially the Minister of Youth and Sports development efforts in making the event a reality.

Oyebamiji pointed out that the event  is aimed at discovering hidden talents in ogbomoso and while it is poised to make it an every year event ,he expressed optimism that the next edition will better all expectations as he called on government and corporate organisations for sponsorst in order to help in fulfilling their long term plans.

Honourable Olamide George,the acting president of Athletics Federation of Nigeria revealed that  a lot of talents have been discovered in the marathon and believe that subsequent outing will be more colourful as efforts will be made in reaching out to private sectors with a view to strengthen the scope of the event.

Former Director of Sports Kwara State and CEO Kazolinks Sports Consult, a partner to the marathon noted that the event has lived up to its expectations even as maiden edition hoping that the gains from the first outing will create leverage in organising the race years to come.

The representative of the Commissioner of Youth and Sports development in Oyo State, Honourable Oguntoye Isaac lauded the organisers for the initiative as he urge all the athletes to imbibe the spirit of  sportsmanship.

Winners of the male category from first to fifth positions includes, Ramon Kareem,Adetiba A Michael,Adeyemi Segun,
Akinlade Francis and Adetona Ezekiel who all took home prize monies of fifty, forty, thirty, twenty and ten thousands naira respectively as a reward for their outstanding performances.

Ajayi Mary had also led the  pack in the female section with
Bolaji Esther,Adegboyega Eunice,Olayinka Rukayat
Jimoh Abike trailing behind her respectively to cart home the same prize monies with that of their male counterpart.

Guests at the event includes former Director General, National Sports Commission and former sole administrator of NFF, Dr. Amos Adamu, Alhaji Saka Bello Aremo-ile, Chairman, Ogbomoso Parapo and Chief Adeyemi Adedokun who represented the family of the late Samuel Ladoke Akintola.

Honourable Ibrahim Ajagbe Toskay, Chairman Ogbomoso North local government, Honourable Oyeniyi Oyedokun Timothy, Chairman Ogbomoso South local government, ,HRH Oba Adedeji Olubayo,Alarolu of Arolu,HRH Oba John Akinkunmi Areo,Olowode of Owode,HRH Oba John Akin Ayegboyin Alabewo of Abewo were all among top dignitaries at the historic event .

Yemi Sodeeq
Media and Publicity Secretary
Ogbomoso Marathon.
29-11-2020.