Samson Siasia, Ex-Super Eagle player, has hailed Yakubu Mailafia for investing in grassroots football as a measure to reduce youths’ restiveness.
Siasia gave the commendation at the kickoff of the 2024 Mailafia Peace and Unity Football competition on Saturday at the football pitch in the Dedere community of Obi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
He said it is really impressive for a single person to sponsor an annual football competition to discover talents at the grassroots.
“We will support him and the players that were discovered to be exceptional to enable them to pursue their dreams to become professional footballers.
“Other spirited individuals and companies who are doing well in the state should support this kind of efforts to promote the young ones interested in sports,” he added.
Similarly, Salisu Galadima, Nasarawa State Chairman of the Football Association (FA), commended the organizer for the initiative aimed at engaging the youths to make them unavailable for crimes.
He added that the association was happy that the sponsor had sustained the competition for eight years.
Galadima therefore, promised that the football association under his leadership would partner with the sponsor as well as others interested in promoting football.
On his part, Yakubu Mailafia, sponsor of the competition, said that this was the eighth edition of the competition and he was motivated his passion for football.
“We started the competition in 2016 with just eight clubs, but the 2024 edition has 32 clubs from Nasarawa South and Nasarawa State Senatorial Districts.
“We have a lot of plans for players who displayed exceptional talents at the competition to promote their football career,” he added.
Also, Barr. Esson Mairiga (PDP, Lafia North), representing Lafia North at the House of Assembly, said his constituency had presented three clubs at the tournament.
Mairiga explained that he was impressed with the massive investment in the youths through football and promised to support the organiser to achieve the essence of competition.
Meanwhile, Thunder Football Club (FC) of Agyaragu, who were the defending champions, defeated Harland FC of Shabu 1:0 in the first game of the 2024 edition.
The first match of the 2024 edition was between Thunder FC of Agyaragu, defending champions, and Harland FC of Shabu.
Mamuda Mohammed, Jessey number 8, scored from a first canner kick of the match 10 minutes into the first half of the game to give an advantage to the defending champions. (NAN).