Lagos State Football Association, the organizers of the maiden Nigeria Ex-Internationals Cup, Friday, at its Surulere office, held a press conference to unveil the tournament and the draws for the matches, slated for June 1st-30th, 2024, across different centres in Lagos, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
At the well-attended event of the epochal tournament which was witnessed by several ex-Nigeria international players and the media, Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, Hajji Gafar Liameed told the excited audience, the reasons behind organizing the tournament.
"Football belongs to footballers. They are the custodians of the beautiful game," Gafar began. "For so long a time, our retired football stars have been kept in the shadows. Now, it's time for them to return and enjoy the limelight, once again," he stated.
"This tournament is essentially, aimed at bringing our ex-international players, back to the beautiful game. However, this time, they are coming as Coach- Mentor," the highly-regarded football administrator added.
Speaking further on the tournament, Vice-Chairman of Lagos FA, Adedotun Coker, explained that the tournament which is expected to feature 32 teams, would be played on a home and away knockout basis, from the preliminaries to the quater-finals, that would be played at the prestigious Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Chairman of the tournament organizing committee, Engr. Waidi Akanni, disclosed that the 32 ex-international players listed to participate are expected to form or adopt a team in their locality, and play the roles of the team's coach.
Akanni, a former Lagos FA boss and Chief Executive Officer of Match International Limited, went ahead to disclose to the obviously delighted ex-international players that plans ongoing to make the tournament, a most memorable one for everyone, even as all the teams and officials, shall be fully kitted by one of Nigeria's foremost sportswear companies.
Some of the ex-international players in attendance include, Peter Rufai, Franklin Howard, Friday Elahor, Taiwo Oloyede, Jide Oguntuase and Taiwo Enegwae.
Others are Friday Elahor, Edema Benson, Peter Nieketein, Loveday Omoruyi, Monday Kanu and Festus Odini.
Credit: LSFA Media