Grassroots football remains a key factor in discovering good players for national teams—Founder, DemmyPoet
Posted by Ahmed Iyanda | 4 years ago | 971 times
Founder of a Football Management Company, Ayodele Ademola Ewi-Ife, has said that grassroots football remains a key factor in discovering good players for national teams.
Ayodele made this known at the opening ceremony of the maiden football tournament organized by the foundation, tagged "Players Cup 2021," at the main bowl of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State.
While speaking with Western Nigeria Publica, Ayodele explained the rationale behind the tournament, stressing that many boys are no more interested in sports again as cyber fraudulent activities seem to have taken over the minds of our youths, and we can only draw their mindset with such competition.
"Football is one of the major factors that projects the good name of this country in the world, and Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest number of professional football players across the globe."
Ayodele said that grassroots football should be encouraged to enable more youths to show interest in the sport in the country.
“This is a sport that brings everybody together; it is what people appreciate a lot. We are all once here, we really appreciate it."
Also, Olatunji Akinol, Vice President, Nigeria Football Coaches, Oyo State Chapter, said at the tournament that grassroots football, if properly handled, could give birth to numerous talented footballers in the future.
Olatunji, who has been coaching for over 40 years, thanked DemmyPoet Foundation, organizer of the tournament for such grassroots tournament.
He encouraged youths to take good advantage of the tournament, advising the government of Oyo State to put facilities in place to encourage more youths to participate in sporting activities in the state.
