The Spires 5-aside Street Soccer tournament is targeting youth development with its second season, which was unveiled at the competition’s draws and press conference held at the CIBN House, Victoria Island, Lagos State on Monday.
Dr Bankole Allibay, convener and director of the tournament, explained that the competition aimed to identify and nurture football talents within the 16-21 age bracket, providing structured pathways for professional careers.
“We have gone through a rigorous process of selecting the most qualified teams to participate in the Spires 5-aside street soccer tournament. We want to promote transparency when it comes to street soccer, we did not give anyone an automatic ticket,” Allibay said.
The tournament has expanded its participation to include 40 teams representing five divisions of Lagos – Epe, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Badagry, and Lagos Island. Eight teams from each division will compete, with the top three from each division and the overall best loser qualifying for the finals, making up a total of 16 teams.
“We need to create a platform that not only uncovers future football stars but also nurtures the growth of aspiring coaches and inspires participants to give back to their community. It’s a tournament that sees to it that we engage our youths and engage them positively,” Allibay added.
Co-director Akin Akinyelure described the initiative as an alternative for the youth to grow.
“We need many more such initiatives to take this country forward,” he added.
Director of Operations Akin Odunsi, who took charge of the draws, highlighted the selection process for this season’s tournament.
“It’s been hectic. Unlike last year where we had to reach out to the teams, this time around, we put it on the website and we did not want to be partial, so we had to go through a tough selection process where everyone had to make the criteria,” Odunsi explained.
The tournament, which is supported by the Lagos Football Association, will begin with the Ikorodu Division fixtures on May 10 to 17, followed by the Badagry Division from June 21 to 28, and Lagos Island Division from July 12 to 19.
