{"id":7696,"date":"2013-08-04T06:40:12","date_gmt":"2013-08-04T06:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/unearthing-future-stars-from-mtn-lagos-street-soccer\/"},"modified":"2013-08-04T06:40:12","modified_gmt":"2013-08-04T06:40:12","slug":"unearthing-future-stars-from-mtn-lagos-street-soccer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/unearthing-future-stars-from-mtn-lagos-street-soccer\/","title":{"rendered":"Unearthing future stars from MTN Lagos Street Soccer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There\u2019s no doubt that Nigeria as a sport-loving nation is blessed with array of talent which abide in every nook and cranny of the country. Notwithstanding this repertoire of gifted young men and women, the recurring decimal that has stunted the growth of Nigeria and deprived it from being a world giant in sports, has been the inability to discover these budding talents from wherever they may be.<\/p>\n

It is no secret that soccer remains an abiding passion for Nigerians. When it comes to sports, football has been considered as one of the greatest unifying platforms, which is used to unite the diverse tribes that inhabit the country.<\/p>\n

With the setting up of different football academies, all over the country to seek out soccer stars, standards have been compromised and it has become an uphill task to get the desired results accordingly.<\/p>\n

Also, in the streets abound rare gems and football stars in the making which is evident in many Nigerian accomplished footballers who were discovered on the streets. Popular names like Adokie Amiesimaka, Samson Siasia, Emmanuel Amunike, Jonathan Akpoborie, late Rashidi Yekini, Haruna Lukmon, Brown Ideye and Taribo West, are a few of those who started from the streets and made it into the country\u2019s national teams, through hard work, dedication and sheer talent.<\/p>\n

Lagos State, noted for its cosmopolitan status and being the melting-point of various Nigerian identities; the state rightly becomes a home for budding football talents who dominate its countless streets.<\/p>\n

Going down memory lane, the administration of His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the Executive Governor of Lagos State, came up with an idea to get the streets together in battle of soccer artistry which crystallised into a football tournament called \u2018The Lagos Street Soccer Championship\u201d.<\/p>\n

And each passing year, players from different streets in Lagos, often look forward to the competition which has become a good avenue to unearth future stars in the round leather game.<\/p>\n

Sunday Mirror<\/em> gathered that it was a project which has over the years, enjoyed the corporate sponsorship of telecommunications giant, MTN. Going to its sixth consecutive season this year, the Lagos State Ministry of Sports has teamed up with the brand to deliver the MTN Lagos Street Soccer competition, which is a good development to Nigerian football.<\/p>\n

The partnership has also gone ahead to establish MTN Lagos Street Soccer Championship as the premier nonprofessional football competition in Lagos, Nigeria and the entire West Africa. In addition to the existing categories, this sixth edition is initiating a new developmental group tagged: \u201cU-15\u201d junior category for male players, which is in line with the determination of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development, alongside Education, to develop school sports, in the state.<\/p>\n

This new innovation is based on the philosophy of \u201ccatch them young\u201d, a veritable platform for the discovery of new generation of players and promotion of academic excellence.<\/p>\n

To many soccer analysts and pundits, the initiative is on the threshold of revitalising age-group competition, not only in empowering and making the youngsters realise their dreams, but also setting a formidable platform for them to hit the global stage.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the rationale behind the project, the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Kola Oyeyemi, said \u201cthe main objective of this project is to engage the teeming population of soccer talent that abound on the streets of Lagos and offer them a platform to reach their goals of becoming great soccer players.<\/p>\n

We will continue with a great commitment and renewed vigour to support the Government of Lagos State and any other State in Nigeria on projects that will enrich the lives of the people\u201d.<\/p>\n

From the foregoing, it is the strong belief of many soccer-loving Nigerians that this laudable project would be sustained to give our youths an opportunity to showcase their talent.<\/p>\n

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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: National Mirror Newspaper<\/p>\n

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