VALUEJET TOURNAMENT COORDINATOR BAWALA AFFIRMS PRESEASON MANDATE JUSTIFIED AS 5TH EDITION WRAPS UP IN IKENNE
The Coordinator of the ValueJet Preseason Tournament, Mr. Oye Bawala, has expressed satisfaction with the successful conclusion of the 5th edition, stating that the competition’s mandate of preparing NPFL clubs ahead of the new season has been fully justified by merit.
Bawala spoke to journalists at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, Ogun State, following a pulsating final in which Sporting Lagos defeated hosts Remo Stars 2-1.
According to him, the tournament provided participating teams with an ideal platform to fine-tune ahead of the Nigeria Premier Football League season.
“This tournament has once again proven to be a big opportunity for clubs to prepare themselves properly ahead of the league season. As you can see, no team can be written off. The quality was top-notch,” Bawala stated.
A total of eight NPFL sides featured in this year’s edition: Remo Stars, Sporting Lagos, Inter Lagos, Smart City FC, Rivers United, Abia Warriors, Rangers International, and Shooting Stars. Notably, the three Nigerian representatives in continental competitions — Shooting Stars, Rivers United, and Rangers International — were all in attendance, a development Bawala described as a testament to the tournament’s growing pedigree.
“Our track record speaks for itself. Teams that have featured in previous editions have either gone on to win the NPFL title or finished among the top five. That output gives us joy and reinforces the fact that we are making progressive and positive impact on football development in Nigeria,” he added.
The ValueJet coordinator also used the opportunity to appreciate the tournament’s title sponsor and key stakeholders.
“I must thank ValueJet, our title sponsor, for consistently backing this project. Football business is capital intensive, and their commitment has been unwavering. I also extend my appreciation to the CEO of Remo Stars, Hon. Kunle Soname, and the entire ValueJet Preseason Tournament crew for their brilliant contribution towards the success of this competition,” Bawala concluded.
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