The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bolakale Magaji, has commended the sports development initiative of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the First Lady of Kwara State, describing it as a bold step toward youth empowerment and national talent discovery.
Coach Magaji, who represented the Excutive Governor at the grand finale and colourful closing ceremony of the Governor's Cup/First Lady Inter-Local Government Secondary School Tournament, lauded the administration's commitment to creating massive employment opportunities for youths through sports.
"His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the First Lady are true sports enthusiasts. Their vision is to support our young ones, help them realize their dreams of becoming superstars, and ultimately create sustainable livelihoods through sports," Magaji stated.
The 10-day tournament, organized by the Future Field Team, FFT, was hosted in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. It featured over 300 student-athletes, more than 30 sports coordinators, and team coaches from across the 16 local government areas. Participants enjoyed free accommodation and meals throughout the duration of the competition.
In the football category for boys, 11 local governments competed. Isin LGA emerged champions after a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Ilorin West, following a goalless draw in regulation time. Ilorin West finished second, while Oyun LGA claimed third place after defeating Ilorin South.
In the volleyball category for girls, Offa LGA dominated from start to finish to emerge as champions. Oke-Ero LGA finished second, and Irepodun LGA took third place.
Describing the tournament as a landmark for grassroots sports development, Magaji noted that it provided a vital platform for secondary school children to showcase their talents and pursue professional careers.
Also speaking, the President of Future Field Team, Mr. Peter Johnson, expressed gratitude to Governor AbdulRazaq and the First Lady for bankrolling the project.
"It is a thing of joy to see school children actively engaged in sports. This initiative will help steer them away from social vices and drug abuse," Johnson said.
He appreciated Coach Magaji for his guidance and support, and also thanked the sports coordinators and coaches for their cooperation throughout the tournament. He added that lessons from this maiden edition will be used to correct observed lapses ahead of the next edition.
Johnson reaffirmed that FFT, as an NGO, remains committed to bridging the gap between rural and urban communities to ensure equal opportunities for all young athletes to achieve their goals.
The grand finale and awards night brought the curtains down on what stakeholders have described as one of the most successful grassroots sports initiatives in Kwara State in recent years.
AdexSports
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