Nigerian ex-international and former head of the Lagos State Football Association, Waidi Akanni, serves as the 1XBET CUP consultant, shedding light on the initiative’s idea and his motivation to drive grassroots football development in Nigeria.
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In an interview after the 1XBET Cup press conference held at the Radisson Blu, Ikeja on September 25th, Waidi explained, “It is a non-league championship where players who don’t have the opportunity to play in big leagues can come together, form a community team, and participate in this tournament. That’s why it’s called a community championship.
We’re not expecting those who play in the national and pro leagues to participate. It’s for those not in the league and aims to engage them.”
He further elaborated on the initiative’s benefits for communities, stating, “The first, second, and third prize money is 1,000,000, 500,000, and 300,000 naira, respectively, with other consolation prizes. At the end of it all, the winner takes home the trophy, which we personally purchased. It’s a valuable trophy that holds sentimental value.”
Regarding the number of participating communities around the state, Waidi shared, “It’s a maiden edition. We’re laying the foundation to see how it can be effectively run. We’ve chosen 5 conferences with 8 teams in each conference, and the winner will emerge from these conferences.” These conferences represent the 5 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State.
On his driving force and motivation for sports development, Waidi expressed, “Having played football to some extent, the desire to give back to society is essential.
That’s what keeps me going. Sometimes, you’re fortunate because you can have countless ideas, but no one buys into them.
This time, 1XBET embraced the idea of engaging communities through football, providing non-league players with opportunities to achieve their dreams.”
Regarding the initiative’s continuity and sustainability, he said, “It’s a maiden edition. We’ll assess how it goes, but I’m confident we can sustain it. It’s not our first time doing this. We’ll pray and hope for its continued success.”
Regarding government involvement, Waidi Akanni clarified, “It’s a private initiative aimed at the communities. We hope that the government will also support initiatives benefiting the masses separately.”
