By Edwin Philip
Former Super Eagles coach and ex international Sampson Siasia has call on local and multinational companies to support grassroot football been promoted by philanthropist and sport enthusiast inorder to empower the youths and take them away from partaking in nagative vices that will be detrimental to the society.
Sampson Siasia made this known at the opening ceremony of the eight edition of Mailafia Peace and unity cup currently taking place at the Dadere in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
“Most of this company are doing well in the State and country, they should be to out for once and support grassroot sport, this is money consuming tournament, before you know one or two payers would finds his way to big clubs or Super Eagles, they will keep asking where is this one from, so we need to support him and get this young ones off the street” he said.
While congratulating the the organiser and sponsor of the tournament Chief Superintendent Of Police (CSP)Yakubu Agabi Mailafia, for being consistent and improving on his efforts for the past eight years, saying that the atmosphere in the sport arena and joy of the footballers and the spectators show that they have been waiting for this year’s edition of the sport meet, stating that a lot of young people that turn up for the match is an indication that no crime whatsoever will be committed within the period.
Speaking to journalist, the founder of the Mailafia Unity Foundation and the sponsor of the tournament, CSP, Yakubu Agabi Mailafia, said a lot is in stock in this year’s edition of the tourney.
“From the arrival of the guest you should be sure that we have more good intentions this year, I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, until when we finish and incubate it and when it is good enough for the general public, we have a lot of programme ahead, we are growing and also exploring other avenues where we feel that we can make it better” he said.
According to him, he is motivated by the passion for the game and want to explore the love the youths have for the game to get them off the streets and crimes so that with citizens can sleep with their two eyes closed, he added that scout, national and Local Coaches are on ground to identify talents and nurture them for bigger clubside both Local and national.
On his part, member representing Lafia North in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Barrister Esson Meriga, commended, CSP Mailafia, for choosing football as a unifying factor and a means to arrest the restiveness that youths are known for when not gainfully engaged, promising to liase with his colleague the house committee chairman on sport for some legislative action to support people like Mailafia and other Philanthropist building the youths in the areas of sport development.
“They are a lot of teams participating across the State even in my constituency, Lafia, almost three teams are here, from Asakio, Adogi and Shabu, we don’t have any thing to say rather than to appreciate him, asking for God to keep blessings him, give him more grace and open doors because he is not doing it for himself but he doing it for the entire youth, when you advance the youth you advance the nation” he added.
The 32 team tournament which kicked off October 12, 2024, would end December 26, 2024, the openig match saw the defending champion
The opening match of the tournament, saw Thunder Football Club of Agyaragu, the defending champions, defeating Hartland Football Club of Shabu 1-0, scored by Mamoda Muhammed ardorning Jersey number 8.