In the bid to grow grassroots sports, particularly football, the initiator and chief host of Peace Cup, popularly known as Iyana-Ipaja World Cup, Dr. Ibrahim Kolade, has expressed his satisfaction and excitement over the success of the maiden edition of the talent grooming competition in Iyana-Ipaja, somewhere at Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos, Nigeria.
According to the trained medical doctor, the competition is born out of passion for the game, grooming talents, educating young minds, adding value to people and to foster unity and peace among residents of that area.
Sports247 was on ground to cover the final between Akinola All-stars and Okin United. The first final of the competition which saw Akinola All-star triumph over Okin United via penalties after a 2-2 scoreline at the end of regulation time.
In an exclusive interview, Dr Kolade expressed joy for the overwhelming support the competition got from residents, community leaders and journalists in general. He claims that this has shown that the sky is the starting point for this competition and he sees a bigger one in the nearest future.
As a trained medical doctor, sports 247 commended Dr Kolade for showing great passion for the development of the round leather game by bringing up something of this nature on the streets of Lagos and enquire how he tends to bring both occupation together
” in modern day football, we have seen accountants, lawyers, medical doctors and administrators involving in sports because the game has gone beyond just kicking the round leather object. There is no way the above mentioned have not impacted both locally and internationally. For instance, in this tournament, as a medical doctor, I saved a life with the use of CPR on a player and this gave the competition credibility and an advantage of having a medical doctoron ground. Imagine if I was not hear, this tournament may not have ended in peace” Dr Kolade added.
The first edition may have come and gone but there is a prospect of having a second soon.
” The second edition will be coming in the next three months and it will be a fully sponsored soccer competition, bigger and better. The sponsorship will be fine by a football club and a pharmaceutical company located here in Lagos and we are looking forward to making things happen.” And sincerely, I appreciate the media especially sports 247 for your support and your sportsmanship you have rendered to me and the competition since it started up till the end” the doctor concluded.
