An eight team pre-season tournament to prepare sides for challenges ahead in the new season has kicked off on Tuesday at the Abalti barracks in Surulere, Lagos.
The novel idea as far as grassroots football is concerned is put together and sponsored by the indefatigable Hon. Agboola Dabiri who has been one of the very few consistent, unwavering, long believer and supporters of grassroots football.
The amiable business tycoon, founder and CEO of CATS FC, a pet project which is very close to his heart, that he has nurtured and sustained for many years, while speaking to the press, said the pre-season tournament is just his own way of helping the government and also of contributing to youths development and the society at large.
“There are well over a 1,000 grassroots teams in Lagos state and each of these sides have an average of 40 players in their ranks that they camp, feed and take care of, multiply 40 by 1,000 to appreciate how much these grassroots teams are helping to take the youths off the streets.
“Even though we are not recognized by the government, we are okay with it, and that won’t deter us from contributing to the society.
Dabiri recalled when grassroots football was at it’s lowest ebb, that’s youth football between the ages of 6-18 years, nobody was interested in it, only the premier league sides, Abiola babes, Leventis United, Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Stationery Stores etc was what people were interested in, but according to him, he was amongst those that stood that grassroots football must not die with the likes of late coach Kashimawo Laloko, Fanny Amun, Inne Queens in Benin amongst others.
He called on the government to ensure that whenever they are planning housing estates they should include recreational centers.
The self- styled club owner that has been running a team since the last 24 years, noted that it’s not easy doing it all alone, stressing that when they are even opportuned to have a player that goes abroad, they get something back but don’t expect that quickly because it can take years he said.
“Government is highly committed, stressed but we have to keep praying for them, appreciate them no matter what.
“But they need to get close to us and also ensure that whenever they planning a housing estate, not just in Lagos state but generally in Nigeria, they must plan for recreational centers and football should be there.
“If you know the amount of hard drugs in the society consumed by these boys and girls you will be shocked.
“We’re playing our own part because we don’t condone that from players, which is why government needs to collaborate with us more to fight drug abuse, crime and it’s also a sort of PR for the government.
Dabiri also pleaded with all state governments to take the issue of health training and tips for managers, club owners, coaches seriously to minimize the avalanche of deaths experienced in the sector particularly at grassroots level.
“There’s a program I would have loved every state government to adopt and that’s the issue of health training for coaches, managers, club owners etc.
“We’ve lost so many promising players which makes it imperative that we train the trainers of these players on when to stop, what to observe while on the field”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, the eight teams participating in the pre-season tournament are: Dominion Hotspur, Hyraj FC, G12 FC, FC Bethel Sporting, Broad City FC, Glorious Day FC, Box 2 Box FC and CATS FC.
In the opening fixtures Dominion Hotspur whitewashed Hyraj FC 3-0 while G12 defeated FC Bethel Sporting 4-2.
