Local News

Teams Battle For N1, 850,000 In JOF U-13 Cup Finals

All roads lead to the Sports Centre of the University of Lagos in Akoka, Yaba, Lagos as the final ceremony of the 5th edition of JOF U-13 Cup Football Championship holds on Sunday.

The journey of the 5th edition, which started on Sunday 11 February, 2024 with a kicked off at Union Bank playground in Surulere with 64 team, as against 32 in the 2023 edition, will be climaxed on 12 May at UNILAG Sports Centre with the final clash between Zamadek Football Academy and HB Utility Football Academy

In its bid to further incentivising participation and encourage the dedication by the players, as well as rewarding talent, the sponsor of JOF U-13 football competition, JOF Nigeria Limited, has jacked up the prize monies to be given to the winners and the three other runners up teams of the fifth edition.

Last year, a packaged prize money of N1,500,000 was doled out, but this year, the sponsor at a media briefing on Thursday in Lagos announced a total prize of N1, 850,000 which will be given out during the closing ceremony scheduled for University of Lagos Sports Centre in Akoka, Yaba, Lagos on Sunday 12 May 2024.

The winners will go home with the sum of N750,000, first runners get N500,000, second and third runners up will pocket N350,000 and N250, 000 respectively.

Individual prizes of N25,000 each will also be given to the Highest Goalscorer, Most Valuable Player and Best Goalkeeper.

Director of Strategic Support Services, JOF Nigeria Limited, Adeyinka Adetunji said that, though the players are still very young to be spoilt with monetary rewards, the need to encourage and motivate them, and to send a strong message that their God-given talent can bring fortune to them if they are serious with what are doing, prompted the increased monetary packages for the players.

He recalled how the sponsor company took JOF All Stars team of 30 players on playing tour of Lagos, Oyo and Ogun State last year’s November and the enthusiasm that followed after the exercise.

“The JOF U-13 Football Tournament has emerged as a catalyst for social cohesion and community engagement for our youths. Through the power of Sports, we have witnessed first-hand JOF All Stars who played PSI of Ibadan and Remo Stars of Ikenne, Ogun State with the sole and of further exposing the boys to top players from the tournament.

“We put them in a week-long camp where we encouraged them to bond together under one roof and exposed them to leadership training program.

“We will still have another set of All Stars team this year after the final. The plan is to expose these youngsters to life outside football.

“The camping and the tour were good exposure for the players. This is a testimony to the fact that we are taken the annual JOF U-13 Football Tournament beyond football with a focus to development these players,” Olatunji said.

Olatunji commended the support the tournament has been receiving from the sporting media since the first edition in 2020. This, he said, is unprecedented; and like Oliver Twist; he asked for more.

He also appreciated the support from some brands which believe in the vision of the tournament.

“This year as usual, we are expecting some brands presence from Milo, Maltina, Indomie, JOF salt, Custodian Insurance, First Bank and others during the final ceremony,” he said.

Secretary of Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association, Abubakre Ishola said the organization is out to provide a platform for the kids to develop their talent, build character and instil passion for the game in them.

“We would like to express our profound gratitude to our sponsor, JOF Nigeria Limited for their unwavering support and commitment to youth soccer development in Lagos State for the past four years.

“Without the dedication of Dr Olusegun Olugboyegun to our course, event like this would not have been possible. Sir, we are truly grateful for your magnanimous support,” he said.

Local News

6th JOF Kids Cup Kicks Off In Lagos

The much awaited 6th edition of the annual Under-13 JOF Kids Soccer competition kicked off on Sunday, 16th February 2025 at the Union Bank Sports Club playground on Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos with 64 neighborhood football clubs and academies taking part in the tournament.

This is one of the Corporate Social Responsibility programs of the sponsor company, JOF Nigeria Limited, a wholly indigenous manufacturing and supply chain services organisation, which took special interest in the development of talents of the Nigerian youths. The U-13 JOF Kids Cup this year promises to be more glamorous, judging from the display of the kids during the kick-off match between Shaker Boys from Oshodi and Omonia Babes of Oto Awori.

Though Shakers Boys won the grudge tie by a lone goal, it was obvious that Omonia Babes put up a display on the pitch to send a message to opponents in the course of the first round of the competition that they are not pushovers.

Chairman Organising Committee of the tournament, Samuel Omolola disclosed that the first round will be keenly contested across three centres, Union Bank playground in Surulere, Ojo Oniyun playground in Ebute-Metta and Lekki playground in Eti-Osa, adding that matches are scheduled to be played on weekends to give the children opportunity of concentrating on their studies during the week. Omolola commended the sponsor, JOF Nigeria Limited, for the support since the first edition. He assured everyone that Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association will continue to organize a tournament of high football standards that will motivate the kid footballers.

Mr. Adeyinka Adetunji, the Director, Strategic Support Services, who represented the Chairman/CEO of JOF Nigeria Limited played the ceremonial kick-off. Adetunji advised the footballers to enjoy themselves on the pitch while displaying their God-given talents.

Other registered participating teams in the 6th edition of the tournament are, Small Tiger of Epe, Rufy Academy of Badagry, Puma Boys of Ojo, Latoyam Boys of Aguda, United Boys of Ogijo, Alaro Babes of Apapa, Yinka Babes of Badagry, Barca of Mainland, Adeomo Boys of Okoko, Junior Arsenal of Alimosho, Kola Babes of Ipaja, Miracle FC of Ijesha, Young Stars of Lagos Island, Warrior FC of Agege, Bariga United of Bariga, HB Utility of Ilupeju, Oron Academy of Oyingbo, Edet Academy of Aguda, Oloto Babes of Otto, ADC Academy of Ogba, Ajegunle Boys of Ajegunle, Idimu Bombers of Idimu, Tom boys of Orile, Oworo United of Oworo, Tobi Boys of Ojodu, Rock FC of Ojodu, Ultimate Villa of Ikorodu, Royal FC of Iwaya, Stricker Academy of Oko-Oba, Dollar Boys of Ifako, Landa Boys of Okoko, Demilade Boys of Ayobo, MRS Academy of Imota, Global FC of Mushin, Fagbems Boys of Ikeja, Alaba United of Alaba, Oluyole FC of Ayobo, Ikosi babes of Ketu, St. Michael of Alimosho, B. Unit of Surulere, Amazon Boys of Ikoyi, Abey Boys of Ajah, Afun Academy of Maryland, Kamin Boys of Oyingbo, Zamadek of Lagos Island, Chelsea Boys of Ketu, Ajiran Boys of Ajiran, Okota Academy of Okota, Ola’s Babes of Somolu, Greater Tomorrow of Lagos Island, Strong Dove of Orile, Adamu Academy of Idi-Araba, Glory FC of Ikotun, Mafe Ace of Ijegun, Botife Ace of Abule-Egba, Solution Boys of Apapa, Dopemu United of Dopemu, United Star of Mafoluku, Musiner FC of Mushin, Ultimate Stars of Apapa, Young Boys of Ojo, Abu Babes of Igando and Aket Babes of Iddo.

Local News

Nigerian Player Drags Super Eagles Coach Chelle To His Club

FK Rabotnichki star defender, Sodiq Anthony Rasheed is making the right headline in Southeastern Europe, distinguishing himself as the best productive player in the Macedonian top Football League.

The experienced 24-year-old has consistently maintained top form that ranked him as the best player in the league. His versatility on the pitch is what many Macedonian pundits have described as genius.

His club, Rabotnichki are currently in the 1st position with the same 37 points with the 2nd and 3rd positions. Thanks to the efficiency of Rasheed who has scored two vital goals so far and made himself a solid rock at the defence line of the team.

Speaking on his explosive form, he said: “I am enjoying every bit of my career in the league, my major focus is to remain consistent and help my team to win the title this season. I have been encouraged to do more and I am not going to let my current performance affect my main focus.”.

Rasheed exceptional and superlative performance is sending a message to the newly hired Super Eagles coach to take a stop at the Macedonia league as he is currently moving around to shop for new players.

“I am not going to be too desperate, I almost had a chance under the former foreign coach, and maybe this time around I can be invited to the national team to prove my experience can count at the defence line. My target for 2025 is to win the Macedonia league and take big advantage of Super Eagles camp and I hope this comes to pass.”

Rasheed has become the rave of the moment in the Macedonian top league following the superlative display that saw him nominated for several Macedonian 1. MFL Team of the Week player.

Local News

Play For Super Eagles – Chelle In Contact With 29 Year Old Newcastle United Forward

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle is not leaving any stone unturned in his bid to ensure that the senior national team of Nigeria progress to the 2026 World Cup.Nigerian football apparel, as reported by OwnGoalNigeria.

The coach made a tour last week to see players of the team ahead of the world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively. He is expected to submit his provisional list of players for the world cup qualifiers to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) later this week.

He is also planning ahead of both games, and we can exclusively reveal that he has made contact with Newcastle United forward Jacob Murphy who is eligible for the senior national team of Nigeria.

Chelle had a chat with the 29 year old to gauge his interest in switching to Nigeria due to his Nigerian descent. Details of how the discussion went wasn’t made available to us as at the time of this report.

Murphy who has represented England at various level is of Irish descent through his mother and he is of Nigerian origin through his father. He is yet to be capped by any of the above nation at senior level.