Organisers of the of late Chief Taiwo Joseph Ogunjobi U-17 Tournament, Ijesha Football Association in State of Osun have rolled out plans for the hosting of the second edition which kicks off on February 5th to 28th 2021.
In a meeting held recently the Board of football council approved that the 2nd season of the cadet championship be hosted in honour the former Secretary General of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Recall Ogunjobi, a former Nigeria international and IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan legend died on February 10, 2019.
His death, at the age of 65, came 35 years to the day after he made his debut for Nigeria against Morocco in an Olympic qualifier, which in 1984 was not restricted to under-23 sides.
According to Rawlings Oyebayo, Chairman Ijesha Football Council said: “The essence of the age grade tournament which is sponsored by Siji lagunju, Deputy Technical Director of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is to boost the discovery of exceptional talents at the grassroots and catching them young in a bid to provide a well defined future for them.”
Oyebayo also outlined the modalities for this year’s championship did inform that: “Interested grassroot teams are expected to pay a none refundable fee of Ten Thousand Naira Only (#10,000) as the sale of registration forms began on Monday, 17th of January.
“With a view to curbing age-cheats, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) has fixed January 31st for player’s screening and will would not hesitate to sanction any team found to have presented over-aged players.”
The Ijesha Football Council egg-head used the media to appreciate Lagunju who has been the sole sponsor of Ogunjobi U-17 championship and also Tunde Shamsudeen, the Media Officer (2) of the nation’s third-tier league, NationWide League One (NLO) for the media mileage provided the tournament.
“We also want to carry everyone and other well meaning personalities along as a formal invitation has been extended to the late Ogunjobi family as regards the programme and also to the late Ogunjobi Foundation through Shamsudeen.”
