The planned JKF youth cup being organized by Ekiti state football association has been described as no ordinary football competition by the organizing committee led by Kolawole Owoseni.
According to a statement released by the FA media officer, Ayodeji Okunuga, the competition is not to be played on league format, but as a tournament, which is expected to feature 16 under 15 boys representing the 16 local government areas in Ekiti state and 8 female teams.
The 16 male teams shall be divided into 4 groups of four teams each. The teams shall be involved in a round robin format and with the top 2 teams qualifying for the quarterfinals, while the female teams shall be divided into two groups that shall comprised of four teams each with two top teams from each group qualifying for the semi finals.
Importantly, too, he remarked that that the inclusion of the female category is expected to kick start the development of female football in Ekiti state.
The release also disclosed that matches shall be played only on Fridays and Sundays, while the quarterfinal matches will commence at the end of the first term holidays in December.
” It is important to state clearly that this platform was created for the purpose of identifying talents in the U- 15 age group for boys and the plan is to scout budding talents who will automatically form the state U-15 team that would later be camped to train every fortnight with the sole objective of ensuring that the boys are well groomed for a football career, ” Owoseni disclosed.
“Hopefully in 2 to 3 years, Ekiti state should be able to contribute to the Nigeria National U 17,” he enthused.
He went ahead to appreciate the proposed partners of the tournament, including the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, ALGON, Ekiti State chapter, the Ekiti State House of Assembly, the SUBEB and other MDAs in Ekiti State.
“Special thanks goes to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and our most sincere gratitude to her Excellency, Erelu Bisi Fayemi for her unalloyed support for youth development, most especially, the girl child,” he added.
