By Francis Ajuonuma
Sports loving Nigerians would be treated to the best of football artistry as the final of the maiden edition of the ‘Above 50’ Football Championship takes the centre stage this Saturday, August 5, 2023 at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium Surulere Lagos.
The fixtures released by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the championship, show that ‘Team Ajegunle’ will trade tackles against Team Abeokuta’ in the final in what promises to be a cracker considering the performance of the two teams at the preliminary stage of the competition put together for senior citizens of the country.
The final will be preceded by the third place match between ‘Team Surulere’ and ‘Team Alimosho’ at the same venue. The match kills off by 11am.
Meanwhile sponsor/ initiator of the championship Ambassador Dr. Edward Olutoke has expressed joy at the level of attendance and the number of ex- internationals and former national team players that are participating in the tournament.
He explained that the idea behind the competition was to enable old players network, exercise themselves and show the young ones that they can still play football.
Olutoke who is the President of Ikeja Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture promised that the championship will be sustained just as he commended the players and officials for the discipline displayed during the preliminaries urging them to replicate it in the finals.
In his own remarks Chairman of the LOC, Dr. Rafiu OLadipo expressed joy that there was no reported case of injury pledging that his committee will ensure fair play at the finals.
Results of the final preliminary matches played on Sunday indicates that Ajegunle defeated Ikeja by a lone goal while Itire-Ikate and Abeokuta’ played a goalless draw with Surulere defeating Badagry by 2-0.
Winner of the tournament will go home with a giant trophy and N5 million while the first and second runners-up will get N2 million and N1 million respectively.
