Zola FC, Ijegun on Sunday emerged winners of the maiden edition of Tunde Balogun U-14 grassroots football tournament in Lagos State.
The team defeated Success FC, Mile 2, 9-8 on penalties in the final of the competition, played at Campos Mini-Stadium, Lagos, to lift the trophy with a cash prize of N250,000.
The runner-up got N150,000 for their efforts, while Talented FC, Apapa, which had on Saturday won the third-place match, was rewarded with N100,000.
The Nigeria News Agency reports that the competition ”tagged Eko Youths 2019” was organised by Balogun, Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state in conjunction with the Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association
The high-octane encounter, which started 30 minutes behind schedule owing to heavy downpour, saw both sides making many spirited attempts to score goals in the first half.
However, the match was barren until Lawal Khaled, captain of Zola FC, put his team in the lead in the 55th minute with a powerful shot that caught the opponent’s goalkeeper napping.
Farook Balogun, No.10 jersey of Success FC, got the equaliser for his team in the 76th minute after their many incursions into the opponent’s area had failed to produce results.
The match ended 1-1 at the end of regulation time, necessitating penalty shoot-out, through which Zola won.
The coach of the victorious side, Adebayo Wasiu, told NAN after the match that he was elated at the outcome of the match.
He commended the resilient spirit of his boys in the match, saying they deserved to win.
Adebayo, however, said the opponents put up a good fight, describing them as a good side.
”I am happy we won; my boys played well and to instructions. We deserve to win.
”Success FC is a good side too. They are not an easy team. I think it was a good match for both of us,” he said.
The coach said he would expose his team to more competitions to develop them.
Speaking to newsmen, Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Toyin Bolowotan, said the government partnered Balogun to organise the competition to discover talents and promote friendship among youths.
”The essence of the tournament is to discover talents that can be groomed into big stars and promote friendship among our young ones.
”The foundation of sports development is grassroots. We are happy with the standard of the competition and we commend Alhaji Balogun for doing this for the grassroots,” he said.
A member of the state House of Assembly, Mr Olumuyiwa Wahab, said no country could develop its sports without grassroots programmes.
He commended the organisers of the competition, saying it was a right step in the right direction.
”This idea is commendable. I am a grassroots soccer person, I organise competitions in my constituency because I believe that is how we can develop our sports,” he said.
NAN reports that other top personalities who graced the final include Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed; and Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Mr Tajudeen Ajide.
Lagos APC Vice Chairman (West), Mr Funsho Ologunde; and Lagos APC Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr Abiodun Salami, were also present.
A total of 24 teams across the state participated in the competition.
