Football Takes Centrestage For Christmas

Football appears to have taken a centre stage as the build up to Christmas festivities kicks-off.

A survey by Tidesports reveals that in almost all the twenty-three local government areas, football tournaments are being organised in various communities.

The tournaments sponsored by the various local councils and individuals are being contested on inter-compound local teams and inter-community basis.

Tidesports recalls that grassroots tournaments have over the years served as an avenue for entertainment for those holidaying in their various communities during the yuletide season.

Also, it has been an avenue for the discovery of young talents, who have gone on to play at the top level.

Speaking at the weekend, Frank Iyallason, a youth leader in Bukuma in Degema Local Government hinted of plans to revive the inter-compound football tournament in the area as a way of healing the wounds of the crisis that engulfed the area.

He said that when the tournament was active, the youths in the area spoke with one voice and were not involved in violence. Identifying that sports as a veritable tool to curb violence, Iyallason advocated for more support to ensure that the tournament achieves its purposes.

“The essence of sporting competitions like football during this Christmas period is not only to provide entertainment but to enable youths channel their minds to productive ventures given the fact that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

“I can say that the purpose of such tournaments can be achieved if there are more support, especially in Bukuma where we are trying to heal the wounds of the crisis that engulfed the community few years ago”, he said.