Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), the organisers of the maiden Nigeria Ex-Internationals Cup, Friday, at its Surulere office, held a press conference to unveil the tournament and the draws for the matches, slated for June 1st to 30th, across different centres in Lagos.
At the well-attended event of the epochal tournament which was witnessed by several ex-Nigeria international players and the media, Chairman of LSFA, Hajji Gafar Liameed told the excited audience, the reasons behind organising the tournament.
“Football belongs to footballers. They are the custodians of the beautiful game,” Gafar began. “For so long a time, our retired football stars have been kept in the shadows. Now, it’s time for them to return and enjoy the limelight, once again,” he stated.
“This tournament is essentially, aimed at bringing our ex-international players, back to the beautiful game. However, this time, they are coming as Coach- Mentor,” the highly-regarded football administrator added.
Speaking further on the tournament, Vice-Chairman of Lagos FA, Adedotun Coker, explained that the tournament which is expected to feature 32 teams, would be played on a home and away knockout basis, from the preliminaries to the quater-finals, that would be played at the prestigious Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Chairman of the tournament organising committee, Engr. Waidi Akanni, disclosed that the 32 ex-international players listed to participate are expected to form or adopt a team in their locality, and play the roles of the team’s coach.
Akanni, a former Lagos FA boss and Chief Executive Officer of Match International Limited, went ahead to disclose to the obviously delighted ex-international players that plans are ongoing to make the tournament, a most memorable one for everyone, even as all the teams and officials, shall be fully kitted by one of Nigeria’s foremost sportswear companies.
Some of the ex-international players in attendance include, Peter Rufai, Franklin Howard, Friday Elahor, Taiwo Oloyede, Jide Oguntuase and Taiwo Enegwa.
Others are Friday Elahor, Edema Benson, Peter Nieketein, Loveday Omoruyi, Monday Kanu and Festus Odini.
Round Of 32 Fixtures
FC Victor Agali Vs FC Yakubu Aiyegbeni
FC Jide Oguntuase Vs FC Dosu Joseph
FC Alloy Agu Vs FC Yusuf Ayila
FC Loveday Omoruyi Vs FC Abiodun Obafemi
FC Taiwo Enegwa Vs FC Edema Benson
FC Waidi Akanni Vs FC Friday Ekpo
FC Friday Elahor Vs FC Ifeanyi Udeze
FC Godwin Okpara Vs FC Peter Rufai
FC Clement Temile Vs FC Mba Agbai
FC Taribo West Vs FC Taiwo Oloyede
FC Victor Ikpeba Vs FC Festus Odinni
FC Bode Babington Vs FC Wasiu Ipaye
FC Fatai Amoo Vs FC Ifeanyi Emeghara
FC Tajudeen Disu Vs FC Henry Nwosu
FC Nduka Ugbade Vs FC Peter Nieketen
FC Joseph Yobo Vs FC Michael Dominic