16 teams set for Spires 5-Aside showdown

Sixteen teams have been drawn into four groups for the third edition of the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer Tournament, which kicks off on Tuesday, October 27, at the Stables Sports Ground, off Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos.

The official draw ceremony was held on Tuesday at the Spires headquarters in the CIBN building, Victoria Island. The tournament will bring together the top teams across the five divisions of Lagos.

Group A comprises Orion & Leon FC, The Crown FC, Smiller All Champions and Blood & Sand Football Club. Group B has Chekas United, Greater Tomorrow, Prodigy FC and Diamond FC, while Group C features ASD Academy, Ango Sports Club, Wasola FC and Emaljus FC. Defending champions White Tigers lead Group D, which also includes New Generation FC, Alphas FC and All Saints Football Club.

The initiator of the tournament, Dr Bankole Allibay, who joined the ceremony virtually from the United Kingdom, said this year’s event was designed to empower young people beyond football.

“For the third edition, we are setting out to achieve more with these young people beyond football, hence we have expanded the Sports Meet-tech component to empower even more participants,” Allibay said.

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He added that after a week-long intensive training in various tech skills, Spires, in collaboration with its partners IHS, would give out 50 brand new laptops to selected participants to aid their drive in the ICT industry.

The special guest at the ceremony, Lagos State Football Association Chairman Gafar Liameed, urged the players to be professional in their conduct during and after the tournament. The 36 Lions FC boss also pledged to donate two laptops in addition to those Spires will give out.

“The Lagos State FA is glad to support the Spires 5-Aside project. I must commend Dr Allibay for his selflessness towards the betterment of the youths in Lagos State. We look forward to another exciting edition of the Spires 5-Aside tournament,” Liameed said.