The maiden edition of the Lagos MiniFootball League will kick off this weekend in Agege, Lagos, ushering in a new chapter for grassroots Minifootball development in the state.
MiniFootball, a variant of the 11-aside version is governed by the Africa MiniFootball Confederation and the World MiniFootball Federation while the Nigeria MiniFootball Association oversees it’s national affairs.
The competition is expected to bring together talented male and female players from across Lagos in a month-long festival of football.
The league will officially open on Friday with a colourful opening ceremony at the Keke Mini Football Stadium in Agege, while competitive matches begin on Saturday, August 1.
Fixtures will be played every Saturday and Sunday throughout August, culminating in the grand finale at the end of the month.
A total of 30 teams will compete for top honours in the men’s and women’s categories, with matches taking place at three designated venues: the Keke Mini Football Stadium, Salvation Army Ground in Oniwaya and the Active Zone Ground in Orile-Agege.
Chairman of the Lagos MiniFootball Association and Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, Hon. Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, said the tournament is designed to provide a platform for youth engagement, talent discovery and community development through sport.
He expressed confidence that the competition would become a reference point for grassroots football in Lagos.
President of the Nigeria MiniFootball Association Umar Yusuf Datti is confident that the league has come to stay.
Beyond the excitement of the matches, the league will serve as a talent identification programme, with outstanding players expected to earn opportunities to represent Nigeria in future continental and international mini football competitions.
The organisers are optimistic that the maiden Lagos MiniFootball League will attract football enthusiasts, scouts and stakeholders from across the state, while laying a solid foundation for the growth of mini football and creating more opportunities for young players to showcase their abilities.
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