Co-ordinator Wants Five-A-Side Football League

Co-ordinator, Yemi Tella/Nigeria Institute for Sports (NISports) Five-A-Side Football Tournament Mr James Adeshina, has appealed to the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to promote five-a-side football in the country.

Adeshina made the appeal when he spoke to newsmen in Lagos on the finals of the annual competition scheduled for September 23.

The tournament is meant to immortalise Tella, the late Head of Football Department of NISports and former national under-17 coach.

He had led Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to the country’s third title win at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2007 at South Korea.

The Tournament Co-ordinator suggested that floating a National Five-A-Side League would be a good way of developing Nigerian football.

“Five-a-side is a preparatory ground for players to get ready for big tournaments and win laurels for the country,” he said.

Adeshina said that the tournament was at inception geared towards educating students of NISports on the rules, regulations and coaching tactics of five-a-side football.

“The aim was for students in NISports to demonstrate on the field what they are being taught as coaches and officials in football. Now, the aim had been achieved,” he said.

Adeshina explained that five-a-side was a game that actually developed players and that participants in it needed to be tactical and skilful to outwit their opponents.

“This is because the turf is usually small, and players have to be quick in speed and skilful. I have been assured that this will be displayed in the finals,” he said.

Adeshina added that the finals witnessed the presence of club coaches who had come to scout for players.

“Letters were sent to coaches of national teams, such as those of the Beach Soccer and Golden Eaglets teams, to come and scout for players,” he said.

The tournament co-ordinator said participation in the competition, which involved 16 teams from Lagos metropolis, had been very interesting.