With the Valentine’s Day Celebration, the Lagos State FA has organized a Valentine’s day Special for bright football talents, across the state, who are within the stipulated age bracket.
The programme which is holding at the Agege Stadium, with over 500 bright football future stars currently participating in it.
The Programme was put in place by the Lagos State FA for Eko Football Future Stars across the state, so as to bring Peace and Unity, amongst one another, as well as to help curb out Age Cheat in football.
Speaking with Sports 247, Technical Chairman of the Lagos FA, Dotun Coker spoke about the programme, the Eko Future Football Stars and the reasons behind assembling this bright football future stars, on a day set aside to show Love amongst one another, as well as so many matters.
“Today being Valentine’s day is an opportunity to show love and to bring unity amongst youths across the state to come together”.
“What we observed in 2011, when we came on board was that there was a lot of ‘AGE CHEAT’ going on, so we decided at the board level, under the leadership of Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi that we would start all over again”.
“So we started from the U10 to the U13 and to the U15, we started monitoring them. So what we do again is that we independently and privately go to their (the player’s) various schools (Nursery and Primary Schools) to confirm if the date of birth their parents gave us is true”.
“So far, so good, we haven’t got anyone worthy, that’s why we are so proud to tell the player’s coaches and parents that all of them will play. We will put them in the right age brackets team, so they can play and we can nurture them from that level”.
“From 2011, we started nurturing this boys, and apart from Football, what EKO Football epitomizes is effective combination of ‘EDUCATION and FOOTBALL’, that’s what we are always looking at, as well as a change in football administration, showing transparency and accountability in football”.
“The Style of our play is based on Life and entertainment and to teach our players how to control, retain and release the ball. We have had so many players over the years, who have represented the country in various competition, as well as various players who represented the country at U17 and U20 Level, and who are currently making the country proud at the moment”
“We also have the girls category as well, which we are nurturing. So we have been able to separate the boys again from 10, 13 and 15”.
“After today, (Sunday), we will be having a minimum of 3 matches of all these teams coming to play every Sunday. So for now, the idea is having a general screening. We will also analyse these players thoroughly, based on their talents, education and football abilities, so as help us find out exceptional talents, who be used when the National league kicks off”, he concluded.
