Above 50 Football tourney : organisers roll out registration guidelines

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

Organisers of the annual National Above 50 Football tournament have released registration guidelines for teams that want to participate in the tournament put together for the elderly in the society to enable them play football, recreate and catch fun on the field of play

According to a statement by the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo interested teams are to pay a registration fee of N100,000 and each team is expected to register 20 players and three officials while five ex- internationals will be registered by a team but only three would be allowed to play in a particular match.

Ladipo while explaining that in order to give opportunity to many teams from across the country to be part of the fun, the competition will now be known as National Above 50 Football tournament just as he revealed that registration will end on July, 31.

He advised teams wishing to be part of the money spinning tournament to obtain their registration forms at 25 Fagbemi Street, Surulere, Lagos or call on any of these numbers 08055001000 and 0703508994 for details.

” Registration has already started and will end on July 31. Teams that want to be part of the tournament are advised to pay and collect their registration forms now because there won’t be room for late registration.

” You’re aware that the maiden edition attracted a lot of interest from football stakeholders across the country and we hope to make this year’s edition more glamorous.

” We’ve equally changed the name from Above Football championship to National Above 50 Football Championship to make it have a national outlook. We also want teams from across the country to be part of the fun of playing football at old age”, explained Ladipo who also doubles as President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club.

Meanwhile, the Technical Director of the tournament, Sunny Epochi has promised that his committee will be thorough in their screening of players.

Winner of this year’s tournament will go home with N5 million while the 1st and 2nd runners- up will get N2.5 and N1.5 million respectively with the team that finishes fourth smiling home with N1 million.

Above 50 Football competition is the brain child of Ambassador Dr. Edward Olutoke President of the Ikeja Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture.

The maiden edition was won by Ajegunle Above 50 FC while Abeokuta and Alimosho came second and third respectively.

For winning the tournament, Ajegunle got N5 million while the first and second runners-up got N 2 million and N1 million respectively.