Bet9ja Elephant Cup: Reps, Osolana pledge to advance grassroots.football in Agege

 Bet9ja Elephant Cup: Reps, Osolana pledge to advance grassroots football in Agege

By Kazeem Akande

 Hon. Samuel Adejare, a member of Federal House of Representatives has said efforts were in place to upgrade grassroots football in Agege to high standard.

Adejare who Represent Agege Federal Constituency at the National Assembly gave the disclosure on Sunday during the final match of 2021/22 Bet9ja Elephant Cup league at Ogba Ashade Palace Agege Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 12 teams were on Sunday Oct. 24 drawn to groups to kick start the season’s matches at Ogba Ashade Place playing ground.

"I just want to thank Bet9ja Elephant Cup organisers for holding this annual league among the youths because Sport is real business.

"Sport is a real business, I want the youths to devote their time to the sporting activities and shun the use of hard drugs and substances.

"If  they focus more on sport rather than taken drugs they will make it big in life," he said.

The lawmaker said that efforts have been put in place to raise the annual grassroots tourney to advance level to encourage more youth in the community showcase their talents.

Mr Sola Osolana, a Chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Agege while given his remarks after the final match also said that the next league would be organised in advanced way.

Osolana the Chairmanship Candidate under PDP in the last local government election in Lagos State said he would ensure the next league is play in more standard way to accommodate more interested youths.

"We are working it out with the organiser to ensure the next tourney is play in an advance pitch.

"We also appeal to the government to give more support to the grassroots game in Agege to ensure the youth are well engaged and shun social vices in the streets.

"I want the pitch to improve more than this at the next league, at least synthetic pitch should be provided to allow the players perform better during their matches," he said.

Mr Felix Ajanaku, the Chairman Football Committee, Bet9ja Elephant Cup in his remarks thanks the sponsors for their annual support of the grassroots league.

Ajanaku thanked Bet9ja, Ottasolo and other sponsors who stood by the Club to ensure the tournament was fruitful.

According to him, the league has been in existence for the past 20 years and since then God has been taken control of the organisation.

He however advised losers to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship and prepare better for the next tournament.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Bit FC defeated Godfather FC 3-2 through penalty shootout after the main match ended 2-2.

Bit FC the winners of the 2021/22 league went home with N500,000 while the 1st runner up went home with N300,000 respectively.

NAN also reports that Bet9ja Elephant Cup competition 2021/2022  season kicked off with12 teams  on Oct. 24, 2021 with 5-A-Side matches that witnessed over 2,000 spectators at a time  at Ogba Ashade Palace Agege Lagos.