Enthusiast Calls For Increased Private Sponsorship Of Football

A Lagos-based football enthusiast, Segun Amosu, on Wednesday called on individuals and corporate organisations to support the development of sports in Nigeria.
Amosu, also the owner of Sinatra Sports Bar and Lounge, situated in Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos, expressed his determination to give Futsa Football a lift in the country.
He told newsmen that the Futsa Tournament (a five aside football competition) had been holding in the Sinatra Sports arena, and had benefited the Futsa Association in Lagos.
According to him, the association has been able to develop young players and also identify new talents through competitions.
He said that the Sinatra Sports Bar and Lounge had partnered with the Futsa Federation and had equally hosted many Futsa Tournaments in which participants benefited immensely from the prize money attached.
“My passion for owning a sports arena is to give youths the chance to live their dreams and showcase their talents in the areas they love,’’ Amosu said.
The sports enthusiast said he also used the sports arena to host Play Station I Competitions, where no fewer than 600 participants had come to compete for the overall prize money.
Amosu said that sports enthusiasts had also come in to compete favourably in other games like darts, scrabble, chess, snooker/pool, and Ayo Olopon (a local game) for noteworthy prize money.
“I am proud of what I have achieved through the Sinatra Sports Bar/Lounge because youths are benefiting from it, and I hope other private individuals can learn from me,’’ he said.
Amosu, who is also President, Marraccana FC of Abuja, said that he had been actively involved in the development of football and other sports since 1995 in Abuja.
“I have been actively involved in football since 1995, and in 2001, I became the President of Marraccana FC in Abuja, where we went ahead to play in many FA Cup competitions.
“Nigeria, as a country, is a sports-loving country, and in Marraccana FC, we have top military, police and top businessmen as members of our club”.
“Recently, I met with the representatives of Chelsea FC of England, where we became accredited partners and are eager to use the sports bar as a fan base in Nigeria.
“It is part of his social responsibility to the community to create an atmosphere where people can come together to interact,’’ Amosu said.