By Francis Ajuonuma
Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Kazuyoshi Matsunaga, yesterday donated sets of Japan Professional Football League (J – League) jerseys, footballs and training materials to four grassroots football clubs in Lagos, just as he seeks a tighter sports relationship between Nigeria and his country.

The benefitting clubs from the donation done at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos during the final of #Firedjiro Cup U-16, include, Iganmu Tigers, Stars To Be FC, Gunners Link FC, and Saidad FA.

Speaking with the media after the presentation, Matsunaga said the gesture was part of his country’s commitment to promote grassroots sports development in Nigeria and strengthen the relationship between the two countries

“Nigeria and Japan are very far away in distance but in Japan, the football brings the Nigerian very closer to the Japanese, because in the Japanese Professional Football League, we’ve seven Nigerians and also we’ve another nine players, who have one parent, who is a Nigerian, therefore, sports is a very important diplomatic tool to strengthen the relationship between Japan and Nigeria.

“So, I’m promoting sports diplomacy since I was brought to Nigeria in May last year but due to the COVID-19, we have a very strong restriction at the moment, but today I’m bringing some donations of football jerseys and equipment from the Japanese professional League to Nigeria. So, I hope the jersey and equipment to lead to promote more people-to-people exchange between Japan and Nigeria in the future,” Matsunaga said.

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“As I said, in Japan football is a very, very popular sport, therefore I’ll like to have more Nigerians play an active role in Japan to contribute to strengthening the Japan and Nigeria relationship. And so, I expect, the more Japanese fan also might come to Nigeria to watch the very interesting game of Nigerian football players,” he added.

Ambassador Matsunaga, also revealed that #Firedjiro Cup U-16 final also served as a sent-forth match for Iganmu Tigers, who will be competing at an international youth soccer championship in Italy in October. Iganmu Tigers’ trip to Italy is in partnership with the Japanese embassy.

The final of #Firedjiro Cup U-16 was won by Iganmu Tigers, who defeated Stars To Be FC 3-0 in the explosive encounter which attracted a fairly crowd at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.