2022 BEACH SOCCER TOURNAMENT KICKS OFF IN KEBBI.
FROM : AYODELE AJOGE, BIRNIN-KEBBI.
This year finals of beach Soccer tournament kicks off today Friday at the Filin Sukuwa race course in Birnin Kebbi the capital of Kebbi State.
The State Coordinator of the tournament, Mahmud Hadeja, while briefing journalists stated that Smart Beach Soccer club and Badagri Beach Soccer Club from Lagos State, Kadda Beach Soccer Club from Kaduna and Kebbi Fishers Beach Soccer Club would be participating in the three days final competitions.
He explained that two games would be played on daily basis as begining from today (Friday before the final encounter between the Lagos team and defending champion, the Kebbi Fishers on Sunday.
According to him, this final competition was to hold in Kaduna but was moved to Kebbi due to logistics problems and excessive rainfall.
"The beach soccer league is very important to Nigeria and the only way to grow the game and the players and curb youth restlessness is to support the game." He said.
In his contribution, the FIFA Technical Adviser on Beach Soccer, Mr. Sunday Okai said the story of beach soccer tournament in Nigeria will not be completed without mentioning Kebbi State, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Mahmud Hadeja because of their enormous contributions to the growth of game which has given adequate recognition by FIFA and level the country has achieved in beach soccer in Africa and the world at large .
The permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, Alhaji Shaibu Aliero who spoke on behalf of the State Governor, Atiku Bagudu said the Kebbi team has been the defending champion and number one in Nigeria and Africa adding that the State government expectation is that the team should maintain it position as all time champion.