BANJO SUPER CUP BEGINS, AS TEAMS FROM WARD B3, E2 OF IKORODU NORTH LCDA GIVE A SUPERLATIVE PERFORMANCE IN THE OPENING MATCH. | Shakiru Seidu. "The development of our youths is sacrosanct," Hon Adebisi Banjo reveals.

This year's edition of the Banjo Super Cup begins friday, July 27, 2018 in grand style. The tournament was labeled one of the foremost Grassroots Football development Competition in Ikorodu Division. The game which Lekan Biliaminu and Milobaby of MiTV ran the commentary kicked off at the Marakana Stadium, Adamo, Ikorodu, amidst excitement.

Hundreds of youths were in attendance to cheer the game between Incredible FC of Ward E2 and Take Something FC of Ward B3.

Incredible FC was the first to score in the 15minutes of the game. Efforts to equalise by Take Something FC in the first half proves abortive. The team from Ward B3 however put up a superlative performance in the second half of the game to equalise and increase the lead. The game ended 2-1 in favour of Take Something FC.

In his eloquent address, the Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon Adeola Adebisi Banjo, disclosed that the aim of the Banjo Super Cup is to take people off the streets and engage them in a positive endeavor. He applauded his Vice, Hon Ameen Apanishile and the entire planning committee members who put all together on behalf of the LCDA.

"Despite the paucity of funds, we have continued to ensure we deliver on our promise to the people. Our youths are our future. Since we assumed office, we have done a number of things aimed at developing and engaging our youths productively.

"As I speak, we are currently training over one thousand youths in different locations within the LCDA in various skill acquisition programmes which we belief would better their lives."

The Chairman therefore urged the 16 teams that are participating in the competition not to see the competition as a do or die affair. "We are one big family," he added.

Speaking with MegaXpression magazine, the Supervisor for Agric, Youths and Sports, Hon Olakanmi Tijani said "the competition is geared towards discovering and developing football talents who are youth in Ikorodu Division so as to enhance their capabilities and proper skills acquisitions.

He noted that Chairman Banjo has observed the need to engage youths across Ikorodu North LCDA in one sporting activity or the other having been convinced that there is nobody that is not gifted in one sport or the other but they only need to be discovered and well guided to the point of harnessing their God-given talent and carefully develop them.

He further observed that his Boss, Hon. Banjo, would never be forgotten for his discovery and development of Ikorodu North Youths in Sports Development which has helped his department to building a legacy to the point that Ikorodu North LCDA will become the first among equals in the sporting scene in Ikorodu Division.

Also at the event, One of the leading contenders of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikorodu Constituency 1 seat, Prince Toyin Gafaar ‘Bolowotan’ disclosed to Shakiru Seidu of MegaXpression magazine that he was excited about the competition as it will engage the youths against crimes and other vices.

“I am quite excitement over this event being somebody who has over the years spent time engaging the youths to get busy using sports as a tool. I believe the amount of time playing spent football could have been negatively utilized. Moreover competitions like this will help many of them get discovered by scouts which will open doors to opportunities in clubs within and outside the shores of Nigeria,” Bolowotan said.

SHAKIRU SEIDU.
CEO/ Editor-in-chief, MegaXpression Magazine.