Nigeria Content Online

The
Easter season will witness intense para-soccer action as eight teams
compete for glory at the fourth Promasidor Para-Soccer Championship.

The tournament,
organised by the Lagos State Paralympics Association (LSPA) and Total
Consult Limited and sponsored by Promasidor Nigeria Limited, will see
the eight teams coming from Lagos, Kaduna, Rivers and Adamawa states
for the competition.

Chairman of the
LSPA, Babatunde Awelenge, stated that the competition is geared towards
encouraging the physically-challenged to embrace sports and to be
socially responsible, adding that physical fitness aids the disabled
person’s ability. “We believe that there is ability in disability. If
the physically-challenged channel their energies to sporting
activities, it will make them socially responsible in the society.” Mr
Awelenge also said that it would be a good opportunity to evaluate
Lagos Paralympics athletes. “We also want to use the tournament to
prepare our athletes for the 17th National Sports Festival scheduled
for June in Port Harcourt.” Awelenge, who is also the vice-president of
the paralympics committee for the south-west zone, commended Promasidor
for the sponsorship and appealed to other corporate organisations to
emulate the company.

The championship,
which will hold from April 22 to April 24 at the University of Lagos
(Unilag) Indoor Sports Hall, will feature teams like Premium Blazers,
Total Consult, NAS Warriors and Lead United all from Lagos; Team Rivers
and Amaechi Babes from Rivers while Kaduna Para-Soccer team and Brai
Moi team will be representing Adamawa.

Speaking on behalf
of the Managing Director of Total Consult, consultants to the tourney,
Idowu George, the para-soccer coordinator, said the company is keen to
see that this edition is successful. He noted that Promasidor’s
interest in the championship would go a long way to help the
physically-challenged in showcasing their God-given talent. “The
championship is meant to take the physically-challenged off the
streets; it will also prevent them from engaging in criminal
activities,” he said.

Mr George promised the competing athletes that the competition would
be rewarding as cash prizes and trophies would be given to the best
teams in the competition. Last year, the competition was won by Lead
Warriors, while Total Consult Terrors and Baba Mai emerged second and
third, respectively.