Organisers promise memorable above 50 football finals

Ifeanyi Eduzor
Organisers of the  maiden edition of the ongoing ‘Above 50’ football tournament have assured that all logistics have been put in place for a memorable finals.
The competition which kicked off on Friday, July, 28, 2023 will be rounded up on Sunday July, 30,2023  at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium Surulere Lagos.
The finals will be presided by a Church service at the Givers Embassy, NUT Pavilion, Alausa, Ikeja.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the tournament, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo told newstap.com.ng that he’s happy with the interest shown by both ex- internationals and former national team players and the elderly in the tournament promising that the finals will be memorable as it  will involve a lot of fireworks.
” I’m particularly happy with the general acceptance of the tournament within a short notice the idea was conceived and you can see that a lot of ex- internationals such as Friday Ekpo, Monday Odiaka, Tajudeen Disu, Blenda Alaga, Jide Oguntuase, Godwin
Okpara, Friday Elahor  and Chioma Ajunwa-Opara amongst others are part of the championship.
” Kudos must go to the sponsor/ initiator of the competition,  Ambassador Dr Edward Olutoke for committing so much resources in this noble idea and I can assure you that next year we’ll source for more sponsors and make the event bigger.
Ladipo who also doubles as the President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, expressed happiness that they’ve not recorded any casualty or injury but was quick to add that adequate medical provision was made with four Doctors and two physiotherapist on ground Incase of any emergency.
In some of the matches decided on Day 2 of the tournament, Team Surulere and Ajegunle played a goalless draw while Alimosho defeated Itire- Ikate 2-1 just as the match between Ikeja and Badagry ended goalless.
Also, Redemption City lost 0-1 to Itire- Ikate while Abeokuta defeated Alimosho 2-0.
According to the fixtures, semi- final matches will be decided before the finalists take the center stage at the same venue.
Winner of the three day tournament will go home with N 5 million and a giant trophy  while the first and second runners-up will get N2 million and N1 million respectively.
Meanwhile members of Redemption City Above 50 football Club have donated a branded jersey to the Chairman of the LOC Dr. Rafiu Ladipo in appreciation of his wearing their jersey in Match Day one of the championship.