Nigeria Content Online

The maiden edition of the Lagos International Youth Cup gets underway today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

Four teams will be
competing in the week-long tournament meant for Under-20 players. They
are FC Utrecht from the Netherlands, Supersport United from South
Africa, Ghanaian club side Liberty Professional FC and Team Lagos FC.

The U-20 sides of
Spanish La Liga side Valencia and Italian Serie A outfit Genoa, were
earlier billed to be part of the tournament but according to the Lagos
State commissioner for sports, Ademola Adeniji-Adele, both sides had to
pull out of the tourney citing security concerns.

Adeniji-Adele said
the tournament was the state government’s own way of giving the youth
in the Lagos Junior League international exposure and to continue the
administration’s policy of bringing youth development to the grassroots.

He also said that
they wanted the tourney to be an annual event for teams from all over
the world, adding that: “Over time we want people to know that they can
come here and pick tomorrow’s stars.”

No security concerns

Asked about the state of security in the state, Adeniji-Adele said, “the state is very secure.

“We don’t have to
bring in the army for this tournament, the police is up to the task.
The Lagos state Sports Council hopes that as from next year more clubs
would be participating.” The Lagos team would be made up of the top
players from the Lagos Junior League, which is made up of secondary
school students. The tournament will be on a round-robin basis with all
the participating teams playing one another. Three points will be
awarded for a win, one point for a draw and none for a loss. In
addition to these, a point will be awarded for every goal scored which
is one way the organisers hope to encourage the participating teams to
be more adventurous going forward.

Free access for students

Action won’t
however get underway until Tuesday, August 3 when two games are
scheduled to take place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. To watch the
tournament people are to pay 100 naira for the open stands and 200
naira for the covered stands. Free access will however be given to
school children who come to the venue in their school uniforms.

Also, the
tournament’s organisers, the Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and
Social Development are partnering with satellite TV broadcasters
Supersport to broadcast the games live. Local stations will also be
showing the tourney.

One of the clubs
involved in the Youth Cup, Liberty Professional FC from Ghana, has over
the years churned out many illustrious footballers. Prominent among
those who came through the ranks are Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan and
Sulley Muntari who are all key players in the Black Stars.

Just last year, the
club made it all the way to the semi-finals of the WAFU Cup and this
year won the Liberty Youth Championship. Some of the players from their
squad expected to shine in Lagos include Stephen Odai Kwaku, who is a
goalkeeper and also a member of the One Goal Project which seeks
education for all. Other players to watch out for are Dennis Akwesi
Osei, a midfielder and Isaac Sackey, a defender.

In addition to the Lagos State government, the Youth Cup is also
sponsored by Access Bank, and the participating teams will be
accommodated at the Island Hotel.