By Ibitoye Shittu

People call him the Dean of the Sports faculty based on his achievements and ways he painstakingly made name for himself locally and internationally.

As far as Sports is concerned in Nigeria, there is no land where the name “Bayour Issah” is not known or heard, thanks to his brilliancy, rugedity, and even if you decide to call him a god of Sports reporting, he worth it.

For those that don’t know who Mr. Bayour Issah, he’s one of the veterans in Sports Journalism in Nigeria.

Mr. Issah is the CEO of Sportspro International, a sports firm that has produced many great sports journalists and administrators. Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka, Wale Mustapha, Shogo Shodunnke, yours truly and many more.

He’s one of the founding reporters of Complete Sports and Sports Souvenir.

On a Monday morning in Offa in the year 2004, I was in my Mum’s place of work then at the General Hospital where she worked for years as a Nurse…..she then turned on the Radio to Radio Kwara AM, and I started listening to a man vibing and disseminating local sports which inspired me excellently.

That was the day I made up my mind to become a Journalist and I also chose Sports as a beat I would move into going against my mum’s and dad’s interest of me becoming a Lawyer.

Initially, I wanted to become a Lawyer, but Bayour Issah’s excellent ways of reporting made me change my mind.

How will I also forget another role model called Jide Allen. He inspired me a lot and was the first man on earth to mention my name on air.

After listening to Bayour Issah on Radio Kwara 3 times, I later bought a private Radio device that I used to monitor his show and that of Jide Allen.

If you are a Kwaran or reside in Kwara and you’re lover of Sports, then you must remember years back that when it’s 7:45am on Radio Kwara AM, it’s time to listen to Jide Allen.

Making my first appearance on TV/Radio

In August 2006, I got a call from Bayour Issah who invited me to come to Radio Kwara for Sports analysis. I was in cloud 9 that day and I rushed to my mum to tell her.

On that evening that I entered the Radio Kwara studio, I was very happy and sitting beside me was a very young and agile man (Wale Mustapha) whom we later became close friends.

Bayour Issah also gave me my first ever appearance on TV which was on Kwara TV in which we both analyzed Sports together for 30 minutes in 2007.

Bayour Issah’s inspiration paved ways for me to start Sports Reporting on Okin FM when the station was newly created.

I started the first ever Sports show in Offa on Okin FM before SBJ Malawi and Wale Mustapha later joined me as Offa people, Kwarans and my fans would still remember how they used to on their radios by 7am Monday to Friday to listen to me.

Landing my first professional job

In July 2010, a Legend in Sports industry Emeka Enyadike reached me on Facebook after reading one of my articles that I posted on a Sports Group.

He then asked for my number and promised to call me. Enyadike called me on a Monday afternoon and introduced himself as the African Football Manager at SuperSport.

I was very happy and we started talking in which he later asked me to tell him who trained me.

I told Enyadike that Bayour Issah trained me and he was impressed.

He said:” Bayour Issah is my friend, but I have not spoken to him since I relocated to South Africa. Send me his number, and if it’s true that he trained you, I will hire you.”

I sent Bayour Issah’s number to Enyadike and they spoke and it was also a chance for two old friends to reunite.

Then, I was serving in Delta State and Emeka Enyadike said he would monitor me for six months in which he gave me many assignments to do.

After my NYSC, Enyadike hired me as a reporter for SuperSport.

SuperSport helped me to go places as I traveled to many nations covering Sporting activities.

It also gave me the chance to meet new colleagues like Sammy Wejinya and Andrew Randa who up till today treat me like their younger brother.

Bayour Issah is indeed a blessing not to only me, but to many generations.

The Dean of Sports worth getting a Statue at the Kwara state stadium in Ilorin.

Thank you Bayour Issah as my lineage will never forget you.

Ibitoye Shittu writes from Ilorin.

When, in September 2019, a new set of management team was announced, concerns were raised, and that has always been the feature that accompanies such a ritual, for stakeholders to react, both negatively and positively, based on perceptions.

First, the courage and foresight of the Executive Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq must be saluted, in not only constituting the board, but also supporting the team to continue to blaze the trail.

The team was primed to compete in the Nigeria National League (NNL) in the 2019/2020 football league season, but had a rise in status after just few matches in the second tier league, owing largely to the magnanimity of the state Governor, who approved the buying over of the Nigeria Professional Premier League (NPFL) slot of Delta Force, after ten matches into the NPFL season. The team however, had a rough season.

After coming out of that rough road unscathed, the lessons learnt was enough to raise the bar, beyond expectations.

It was against this backdrop, that the management defiled all odds, to assemble a team of relatively unknown but highly determined players, and the result of that exercise is evidenced with the team’s campaign in both the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons. Kwara United rose from the path of uncertainty to absolute greatness. From playing with fear to playing with flair, from playing without hope to playing with hopefulness, and from just playing to playing with purposefulness.

The team would have ended the 2020/2021 season in the second position, with 65 points, and plus 20 goals difference.

However, the outcome of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at its meeting held on August 5th, 2021, as it concerns Matchday 34 fixture played on 21th July, 2021 at Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna State, between Jigawa Golden Stars FC and Rivers United FC changed that narrative.

Rivers United FC had protested against the fielding of a player, Richard Christopher (Jersey number 8) by Jigawa Golden Stars FC in the match, on the grounds of ineligibility, having accumulated five (5) yellow cards during the season.

The NFF decision stated that Jigawa Golden Stars FC shall forfeit 3 points and 3 goals to Rivers United FC in respect of the match, for fielding an ineligible player in breach of C5 of the NPFL Rules.

The Appeal Committee of the NFF, few days later, adopted the ruling of the Disciplinary Committee, which therefore, placed Rivers United in the second position of the table, pushing Kwara United to the fourth position.

The obnoxious decision, which was ostentatiously kept till the last day of the league, favoured Rivers United FC at the expense of Kwara united FC, a team that has done everything right to win clean and clear on the pitch.

Kwara United Football Club recorded remarkable successes in the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season. Some the achievements included ending the first round of the season on top of the table.

The team did not lose any match at home, and this feat had been achieved by the club for a very long time. The feat was also sustained beyond the 2021/2022 season. And for the first time in several seasons, they did not fight relegation, as was the feature before now. The team completed the double over four clubs, Plateau United of Jos, Sunshine Stars of Akure, Katsina United FC and Adamawa United FC.

Kwara United FC were rated as one of the best playing teams, and were adjudged as a surprise package of the season by the stakeholders, especially on the backdrop of previous outings. Of the 20 NPFL teams for the 2020/21 NPFL season, Kwara United paraded one of the youngest squads, with Golden Eaglets’ Monday John and Sulaiman Mojeed, both U-17, registered for the season, among many records created.

The successes recorded so far can also be traced to the unity and friendly atmosphere in and around the team, and this averted the curse that ‘each year had led from bad to worse’ which people see as a common aphorism. The narratives have no doubt, changed, and can also be sustained with the arrangements on ground in the team.

For Kwara United FC under the current management, it’s been a campaign of purposefulness, laced with professionalism, which has brought a huge difference and a great departure from the past.

Just like every other season before now, objectives were drawn, targets set, aspirations kept, and hopes hinged on many variables, which importantly has to do with the caliber of players engaged, and the capacity of the technical bench.

This new found status will continue to bring more positive exploits for the team, especially as the management is expected to build on the positives recorded, while finding solution to the negative ones.

This management, going by records, inherited just five players, all of whom are average materials, while the others were on loan from other clubs. The first very major accomplishment that metamorphosed into the present characteristics known of the club has to do with investment in recruitments, and as of today, Kwara United owns all the players in its fold. Another very important factor that assisted the club’s cause was the prompt payment of salaries and allowances to the players and officials, even during Covid-19 period when there was no football action and the league was on break.

Also in the period under review, Kwara United have numerous of its players invited to the national teams, the U-17, U-20, U-23 and the home based Super Eagles.

The Club’s medical system was upgraded and ranks among the best so far, as players get rapid attention in cases of injuries or illnesses. The club also ranks among the best in observing Covid-19 protocols, as spelt out and adopted by the NFF and LMC. All these variables have strengthened its welfare system.

Just like the 2020/2021 season, the 2021/2022 season also started and ended positively for the team, as, against all odds, the club was considered to represent the nation in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Going down memory lane, Kwara United first played in the CAF inter-club competition in 1999/2000 season, losing out in the quarter-finals to Zamalek of Egypt.

In 2006/2007 season, the club came first in Group A of an abridged league, with 34 points, and ended up in third position after the Super Four played in Abuja. Ocean Boys won the Super Four, and joined second placed team to represent Nigeria in the Champions League, while Kwara United played in the Confederations Cup for coming third.

And 15 years after, the team was back in the continent after the 2021/2022 season, despite finishing fourth on the 2021/2022 NPFL table, just to beat the CAF registration deadline, as the Aiteo Cup was not concluded on time. The team gave good account of itself in the 2022/2023 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, losing out in the First Round to the defending champions, RS Berkane of Morocco, who are also the Champion of Champions in Africa on away goal rule, after ending it 3-3 apiece. The team had earlier dusted AS Douanes of Niger Republic out of the competition clinically, after a three goal aggregate scores.

Apart from engaging tested players, the team also employed strong technical crew, led by Coach Abdullahi Biffo at the initial stage, and currently, Coach Abdulazeez Mohammed. These are part of the ingredients that has continued to add value to the team, and which, the management will never compromise.

The hopes and prospect of achieving more successes and also breaking new grounds are high, especially with the policy that guarantees the management some level of longevity and independence.

With the Kwara United Football Club Management Corporation Law in place, the management has some level of independence at least for a period of four years, as spelt out in the law. The present management was appointed in September 2019, and will benefit from the Management Bill signed into law on May 24th, 2019.

Before now, just like it was easy for the team to go on relegation, so was it easy to change management even at the slightest record of a single game loss. That obviously gave room for inconsistency in the club’s campaign in the league, as the so called aggrieved stakeholders always undermine support for the team getting good results even at home, just to get rid of those in charge as at that time.

The last two seasons will also go down in history as the best in terms of cordial relationship among the various components of stakeholders, because of the professional way things were done. The Supporters and Fans Club also worked together to complement the efforts of the management, players and officials.

For Kwara United, its a period of hope, and a period of great prospect, under Kumbi Titiloye, a Sports Promoter and Marketer. Kumbi was born on July 30th, 1968, and hails from Oro, in Irepodun Local Government Area of the State.

He was a former player. He played for NNPC FC in 1982, Coca-Cola FC of Kaduna between 1083 and 1984, and was in University of Ilorin football team between 1986 to 1990. He also played for Sporting Hackney in UK.

The excellent facilitator and solution provider was the Administrator of Kwara Football Academy (KFA) between 2010 to 2012, and during that period, successfully got three players professional contracts in Europe, following a 10-day training tour to Belgium for the Academy team. KFA under him also won the 2011 NNPC/Shell Cup competition for All Nigeria Secondary Schools. He was also instrumental to taking the KFA team to Italy on two-week training and match tour. He also developed players that dominate the Nigeria league.

Under Titiloye, the rebuilding and rebranding processes of our darling club, Kwara United Football Club is being championed towards meeting the required pedestal for business opportunities, away from the usual social services. It’s also coming at a time the government is desperately seeking to find alternative financial windows to push the club to the next level. Even before the conclusion of the 2021/2022 season, players like Junior Lokosa, Samad Kadri, Alao Danbani, Ejeh Isaiah and others have gotten foreign offers, and are doing well in their various clubs. More will follow, in the nearest future.

Kwara government’s support and backing is key to the attainment of the new found status of the team, which is arguably one of the symbols of unity for the state.

By Jimoh Bashir from Ilorin

Former Kwara United handler Abdullahi Biffo has paid for three Kwara coaches to acquire more knowledge at the Nigeria Institute for Sports, NIS to help their careers in coaching.

This is not the first time Biffo will be doing this, as it will be recalled that he also sponsored 3 Kwara coaches to NIS in March 2021.

Salaudeen Adeyinka (Keshi) from Offa, Olododo Muhammad and Jimoh Abdulkadri (Kado) are the 3 Kwara coaches picked by their association in the State to benefit from Biffo’s latest sporting gesture.

Interestingly, Kado who is currently the head coach of Abraysport was also sponsored to study Basic at NIS by Biffo, but this time around, the Ilorin born coach will be going for 1 year Advance coaching course which will begin in January 2023.

Keshi and Olododo on the other hand have started their Basic courses at the National Institute for Sports (NIS) at the National Stadium, Lagos.

Speaking on this gesture, Biffo urged the 3 coaches picked by their Association in Kwara to be good ambassadors of the State stressing that he will continue to do his best to help younger coaches to grow.

“I just want to urge them to come out in flying colours at the NIS and I wish them and other coaches success in their careers. I will continue to do my best for the development of football and sports in general in my state (Kwara).” Biffo explained to award winning Sports Journalist Ibitoye Shittu.

Biffo’s 3-year contract as coach of Kwara United expired at the end of last NPFL season in which the Harmony Boys got continental ticket.

He was in charge of the team for 32 games last season before he traveled to America for urgent medical treatment, and in his absence, coach Lukman Ijaiya and coach Mukaila Iyala took charge thanks to Audu Mohammed who assisted them from the innerdoors.

Coach Audu was later named as the replacement for Biffo and was in charge of Kwara United’s campaign in the 2022 CAF Confederations Cup.

Biffo also remains the Coach with the highest number of away wins in a season at Kwara United which was 4 which he got in the 2020/21 NPFL season.

The former Katsina United and Abia Warriors’ gaffer also set unbeaten home record in the NPFL while in charge of Kwara United.

Biffo who has CAF B and UEFA B is still in the United States.

The league board of Kwara U-12 YEG League on Wednesday signed a sponsorship deal with Mobrimah Foundation and Beyond Creativity media firm in a ceremony hosted at the conference room of the Kwara Football Academy, KFA in Ilorin.

The deal, according to the Chief Operating Officer of the league, Ibrahim Jatto is a watershed which will go a long way in achieving the core values and inception message of the league.

‘This is a ground breaking deal which signals a new dawn for football development in Kwara State and Nigeria. We are happy to have our sponsors join us in making history as we invest in the future of football in Nigeria”. said the COO

Also speaking at the event, the representative of Mobrimah foundation, Abdullahi Abdulhameed noted that the sponsorship drive was inspired by the thrust policy of the foundation which, among many other things is geared towards emancipation of people at the grassroots and also helping the less privilege in achieving their dreams.

“The league has created a platform for young footballers to display their talents and we believe that the synergy between us and the league board will aid their long term aspirations”

In his remarks, the representative of the Beyond creativity media firm, Abdullahi Loke expressed delight to be part of the development which he said will continue to be a reference point in the course of football development in Nigeria.

The sponsorship deal will covers logistics, provision of matchday and monthly awards to players and coaches, training materials for all the 12 teams taking part in the league, provision of media coverage and leverage and hosting a gala and award night at the end of the season to celebrate all the stakeholders.

The office of the Nigeria Pillar of Sports has presented a giant trophy for the 15th edition of the Kwara YSFON Commissioner of Police football tournament.

In a brief event which held at the Police headquarters on Monday in Ilorin, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike, Nigeria Pillar of Sports noted that the gesture is a fulfilment of his commitment to Kwara State Police Command in all its activities.

“The office of Nigeria Pillar of Sports is here again today to make this presentation and reiterate our commitment using sports to curb youthful exuberance and juvenile crime in the society while also helping the youths in developing their talents” said Chief Ejidike who lauded the force for securing life and properties.

Speaking at the event, an elated Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Mr. Tuesday Assayomo described the moment as a wonderful one and applauded the Office of Nigeria Pillar of Sports for complementing and cooperating with the command in all its activities.

In his own remarks, the Chairman of YSFON in Kwara State commended Chief Ejidike for his philanthropic disposition and promised to sustain the legacies of the tournament which has now become a veritable platform to engage the youths.

The finals for the tournament across three different categories of U17 Boys, U13 Boys and U17 Girls will hold on Tuesday, August 30 at the Kwara Football Academy pitch in Ilorin.

Oyo and Osun State U15 teams are through to the semi-finals of the Ogunjobi U15 Memorial Cup after they compounded the woes of Ekiti and Ogun State U15 teams respectively.

A beehive of activities returned to the Sports Complex Ataoja School Of Science in Osogbo as six goals were scored on Matchday 2 of the tournament.

The Oyo State team who defeated a 10-man Lagos State team on Matchday 1, took the game to their counterparts from Ekiti State who had piped Kwara State in their opening fixture.

Shittu Fawaz was the unsung hero after he broke inside Ekiti State U15 team box, and hammered home the goal in confident fashion in the 20 minute and at the end proved to be the winner for his Oyo State team.

For Osun, they had Hamzat Qureeb to thank, after he scored from a sublime free kick in 52nd minute.

Victory for Oyo and Osun State U15 teams on Matchday 2 have placed each on top their groups with 6points each.

It was a superb Matchday 2 outing for Lagos State U15 team as they put behind their loss to Oyo State to beat Kwara State 3-1.

The Eko Boys meant business as they got a 5th minute lead through Uche Egwu and from there, he put his team in the driver’s seat.

Twenty-five minutes later, Kwara State U15 scored their first goal of the campaign after Arowolo Daniel broke in and steered the ball into the bottom corner of Lagos State goal to restore parity for his team.

Lagos then needed nine minutes to seal off the game to earn their first 3points and a chance to advance into the semi-finals, after Romans Obinna latched onto a defensive error by Team Kwara’s defender and coolly slotted home to restore Team Lagos lead in the 51st minute.

As the game got to its one hour mark; Afolabi Kehinde puts the game beyond Team Kwara’s reach with the third goal, after he dribbled past his makers and found the back of the net.

It was not too rosy for NPFL/LaLiga champions Remo Stars U15 after they shared the spoils with Ondo State.

MatchDay 2 Results

Remo Stars 0-0 Ondo State
Lagos State 3-1 Kwara State
Ekiti State 0-1 Oyo State
Ogun State 0-1 Osun State

MatchDay 3 Fixtures

Osun State vs Remo Stars – 10:00 AM
Ekiti State vs Lagos State – 11:00 AM
Oyo State vs Kwara State -12:00 PM
Ogun State vs Ondo State – 1:00 PM

VENUE: Sports Complex Ataoja School Of Science, Osogbo

#OgunjobiMemorialCup22

It is no longer a news to the world that Kwara United will be playing continental football this year, but the joy of the announcement remains in the hearts of Kwarans most especially the diehard lovers of the team.

On Sunday, CAF released the names of all teams that will campaign in this year’s competition and the name of Kwara United appeared on the list of those that will feature in the Confederations Cup.

It is a massive achievement for the administration of Governor Abdulrahman considering his huge investment in football and sports since he became Governor which has finally yielded.

In this report, respected and award winning Sports Journalist, Ibitoye Shittu, reviews the investment of Governor Abdulrahman on Kwara United which helped in landing the Continental ticket.

Acquiring NPFL ticket for Kwara United

When Mallam Abdulrahman became the Governor of Kwara, he met the State’s darling team already relegated into the second division of the Nigerian Football.

And in his efforts and desires to make Kwarans happy, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq acquired an NPFL ticket for the Harmony Boys and the team returned to the topflight with fans expressing their happiness.

And ever since Kwara United returned to the topflight, Governor Abdulrahman ensured that the team lacks nothing and always support them financially.

Presenting two new coaster buses

As a way of easing the challenges in the transportation of players to match venues across the nation, Governor Abdulrahman in the last three years has presented two new coaster buses to the team.

Drama and pains of last two seasons

Last two seasons in the NPFL, the expectation of all Kwarans was that Kwara United would play continental football, but the boardroom points given to Rivers United broke the hearts of Kwara United faithfuls.

However, Governor Abdulrahman encouraged the management, coaching crew and players to fight again last term and they eventually finished 4th and picked the Confederations Cup ticket.

It is safe and worthy to say that Governor Abdulrahman has returned Kwara United to the continent after 11 years since the club last played in the competition and he deserves massive accolades.

Furthermore, there are other soldiers of Governor Abdulrahman whose contributions to this latest success for Kwara United cannot be overemphasized.

SA Sports Alhaji Attahiru Ibrahim

Kwarans have been in joyous mood since Attahiru was named as the SA Sports to Governor Abdulrahman considering how he has been helping people in Kwara Sports.

Attahiru in his love for Kwara United and ways of motivating the players will always present cash gift ranging from 200K after each game.

Kumbi Titiloye

Kumbi Titiloye landed the job as Kwara United Chairman based on his wealth of experience in football both in Nigeria and abroad.

The Oro born football administrator made sure that the coaching crew recruited good players which gave Kwara United the continental success.

Abdullahi Biffo

Abdullahi Biffo has recorded his name in gold as the Kwara United coach who returned the team to Continental football. He is also the coach with the highest number of away wins in the League in the history of Kwara United which is 4.

Biffo in his 3-year stint as Kwara United coach also brought stability to the team and he did not lose any home game in the NPFL.

He also took away the fears of relegation from the minds of Kwarans as Kwara United is now a team feared by all other NPFL campaigners.

The players

The players are the primary actors that brought the continental success and they all must be celebrated and appreciated for lifting their heads up despite many troubles they faced before the end of the season.

The Kwara FA

The Kwara State Football Association Chairman Mallam Idris Musa Turaya also played important roles in making sure that there was full compliances to instructions from the LMC and made sure that Kwara United were not banished away from Ilorin.

He also supported the management of Kwara United in many activities towards getting success.

Kwara fans and media

Kwara fans must be appreciated for their 100 percent love and support for Kwara United and also the Kwara SWAN must be praised for their excellent and massive coverage of Kwara United games both home and away.

A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Amb Yahaya Seriki has pledged support for Senatorial ambition of Mallam Saliu Mustapha.
Yahaya Seriki disclosed this on Thursday when Saliu Mustapha visited his office in Ilorin GRA to solicit support.
He formally congratulated Saliu Mustapha on his victory at the APC Senatorial Primary election and assures him of total support during the general elections
In his address, the Turaki of Ilorin said the meeting became necessary in order to carry along Yahaya Seriki Team and other stakeholders while constituting  his campaign council ahead of electioneering process for 2023 general elections.
Saliu Mustapha also promised to ensure all inclusive representation and provide sustainable empowerment for people of Kwara Central when elected.
He noted that Amb Yahaya Seriki remains a strong force in Kwa

The Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Sports and Youth Development, Mallam Attahiru Ibrahim has commended the initiative of the maiden edition of Kwara Inter-Secondary Schools Volleyball Championship.

The former Patigi volleyball player described the championship as a watershed which will help discover more talents in the State.

“This is indeed a great development. I believe that the competition will afford us the opportunity to discover more talents that will do the State and the Country proud in the nearest future” said the Philanthropist.

In the same vein, the management of La Planet Sports Academia has donated a giant trophies to the cause of the championship.

The trophies, according to the Tournament Initiator will be savoured by the first and second positions team in the tournament

Appreciating them, the Initiator of the Programme who is also the Media Officer of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Dare Kuti thanked SA Sports for his financial contributions and the management of the La Planet Sport Academia for supporting the initiative with trophies.

“We are really appreciative of their gesture and for identifying with this project. We believe it’s a common goal to see that we provide opportunity for our youths- and their support will go along way towards achieving success in the programme”.

A total number of Eight teams will be rolling out their aces for the championship billed for Wednesday, June 8th to 10th at the Indoor of the Kwara State Stadium Complex, Ilorin.

The programme tagged “Soccer Pathways” is scheduled to start on Friday, 5th and end on June 7th in Oko-Omuaran, Kwara State.

According to the organisers, the scouting tournament will have some of the best in Nigeria in attendance.

Marcellinus Chukwunyere Anyanwu, a UEFA Licensed coach will be on ground to see the players display their talents.

The Head Scout and Chief Supervisor of Gulf United, Dubai will select the best players at the competition.

While speaking with Journalists on the essence of the programme, TAICO SA Consultant, Shogo Shodunnke, said the reason for the programme is to discover talents in grassroot and create needed pathways for them to play abroad.

He said: “The zeal is to discover talent and develop them. So what brought the idea is that these players we discovered and developed, we need to market them within and outside Nigeria.

“That’s the reason we decided to partner with Gulf United.”

Shodunnke continued: “Thomas Adewumi International College Sports Academy U17, Thomas Adewumi International College Sports Academy U19, ABS FC, Gidado FC, AMAPRO Selected Sporting Academy and Jazzy Stars FA will feature at the tournament.”

He also assured of positive results at the end of the exercise.

“We are expecting a good, successful scouting programme at the end of the programme. The players scouted for will be taken to different clubs abroad.”

Meanwhile, Mr Shodunnke suggested constant football tournaments at the grassroot and development and proper maintenance of infrastructural facilities is the solution to the problems facing grassroot sport development.