… ahead league competitions kick off in August
Grassroots Youth Football Development Association and the Edo State Football Association recently embarked on consecutive two-week screening exercises for the recruitment of eligible players to feature in the Under-13 and Under-16 league competitions commencing in August.
The screening exercises that took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium had over 20 teams present with their players to screen for eligibility to partake in the Youth Football Development league competitions bid for the 2 categories.
The Youth Football Development League organized by Grassroots Youth Football Association (whose membership cut across the globe) and the Edo State Football Association, are keen on engaging youths in competitive football events to prepare them for a worthy source of livelihood and also to dissuade them from vices capable of endangering their lives.
The coaches and managers of the youth teams, who were present at the screening commended the process as transparent and worthy of addressing unwholesome incidences of disqualifications of players in future age group competitions.
The players who were made to present documents such as birth registration at birth, birth certificate from the National Population Commission, School Results, or Leaving School Certificates, also had occasions where calls were made to parents or relatives to ascertain the correctness of the players’ ages.
It is worthy of note that a database would be developed from the current screening exercises for future reference or guidance.
While the players appeared enthusiastic about commencing the league games, the Public Relations Official of the Grassroots Youth Football Development Association, Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama called on all well-meaning individuals and organisations, sports-loving enthusiasts, religious, business, media, other non-governmental organisations, and the political class to partner with the organisers of the lofty projects.
