Teams intensify training for ‘Above 50’ football championship as Olutoke promises world class tourney

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

Teams preparing for the forthcoming maiden ‘Above 50’ football tournament continued their training Saturday at the Police College, Ikeja play ground with their coaches working on their fitness, ball possession/control and striking skills to keep them in top shape ahead of the competition.

The teams made up of both men and women saw the players sweating it out in the training session with some of them showing some good reflexes which is an indication that there won’t be any dull moment when the tournament finally kicks off.

Speaking to newstap.com.ng after leading his team in one of the training sessions, initiator/sponsor of the championship, Ambassador Dr. Edward Olutoke said that the competition slated for July 28-30, 2023 at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium Surulere Lagos promises to be a world class competition which will see the elderly not only showcasing their talents but make the youths understand that there is no age limit to football just as he assured that all is now set for the tournament which will see eight teams battle for honour in the three day event.

” As you can see, we’re really getting ready for action and I’m impressed with the large turnout of players which is an indication that the competition has gained acceptability.

“Right now, all the teams are already talking tough ahead of the tournament and I can assure you that we’re ready to go and the championship will be full of fun as the idea is not only to play football but to give participants opportunity to network, discuss business ideas and keep fit”, he said..

According to Olutoke who is also the President of Ikeja Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture known as ( Poverty Fighters), the whole idea behind the tournament is to give hope to the elderly assuring that the competition will be sustained and efforts intensified to have friendly matches with teams from Ghana and Brazil even as he explained that he’s looking forward to having an ‘Above 50 world cup in future.

In his own remark Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the tournament, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo commended the initiator of the tournament which he described as a noble idea positing that teams are already looking forward to the kick off date.

” I want to give kudos to Ambassador Olutoke for this noble idea and for investing so much on the competition. As you can see the turnout has being wonderful and all the teams are training seriously to make sure they emerge champion of the competition.

” It’s equally important that I appeal to corporate organisations and public spirited individuals in the country to emulate what Ambassador Olutoke has done and give hope to the senior citizens of this country by sponsoring sporting activities where the elderly can come together network, exercise themselves, burn out calories, fight obesity, make friends and share business ideas”, he concluded.

Winner of the competition will go home with N5 million while the first and second runners-up will get N2 million and N1 million respectively.