SPIRES 5 ASIDE: We're Set For Epic Final, Says Dr Alibay

 

The finals of this year's Spires sponsored 5 ASIDE Naija Street Soccer Tournament comes to an end this afternoon at the Prestigious Stable Football Pitch, Surulere, Lagos.

Two teams, All Saints from the Badagry Football Division  and White Tigers of Lagos Island will lock horns for the N5m top prize while ASD Academy will go head to head against 2 Odds in the classification match.

The Chief Executive Officer of Spires MEDIA, Dr Femi Bankole-Allibay, while addressing the reporters, spoke on the journey so far and why he and his team have been working tirelessly to give Nigerians one of the best organised and innovative Street Soccer Tournaments "It has been a very wonderful journey since we started this tournament in April involving over 52 teams. First, the huge interest shown by the number of clubs tells us that we are on the right course.

"Our focus is of course  use this tournament to empower the youths in Nigeria and discover talents that could end up showcasing their talents at the highest level of football, using Lagos State as a starting point.

"I must say that  my team and I are thrilled by the huge interest shown by the participating clubs and the level of competition shown by the players.

"I am very confident that with the level of preparations put into the entire tournament and the final in particular, football stakeholders will see a whole new dimension of organisation and innovative delivery in grassroot football. Dr Alibay, a PHD holder in Sustainable Development at the Prestigious University of Middlesex London, added.

Football Stakeholders  have described as awesome the high level of organisation and innovation in the tournament.

Ex internationals, Friday Elaho and Etim Maradona Esin, who were invited to mentor the players and officials of the finalists speak of their experiences.

According to Elaho, the Algiers '90 Nations Cup revelation, "the organisation of the Spires 5 Aside shows that Nigeria has talents that can transform our football to a whole new level. "Again, ex internationals like me were invited to mentor and train with the players. You could see the excitement in the players and officials, most of them were seeing me face to face for the first time. 

"For me, this experience will stay with me for a long time. To say I enjoyed myself is an understatement. I say kudos to the organisers for upping the ante in football organisation."

On his part Etim Esin, said Spires MEDIA has taken grassroots  football organisation to a whole new level. " I am so excited with what I saw this morning, good atmosphere to play good football, good motivation to play good football and good environment for the beautiful game.

"I never seen a grassroots football tournament with this high level of organisation. This is good news coming from Nigeria. I commend the organisers and urge them to keep up this great work ".

Former Edo State Football Chairman, Frank Ilaboya, who was the Special Guest in the semi final match, also shares his views.

"I have been following the Spires 5Aside since it started early this year, but this is my first time coming to watch. 

"My first observation was the ambience of the tournament, professionally done that I thought I had missed the venue initially. The players well kitted and above all, they were provided accommodation and buses that take them to the match venue.

"I must commend Spires Media for taking grassroots football to this new level, this is how it should be," Mr Ilaboya added.

This year's winner will smile home with N5m Naira, while the runner up and 3rd Place teams get N3m and N1m respectively.

The final match this evening kicks off by 4 pm, to be proceeded by the 3rd place match.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Chief Bukola Olopade will be leading array of Dignitaries including top business moguls and the nation's foremost sports editors.