At least 800 young football players are expected in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, for a national grassroots football competition codenamed ‘Ote-4-Wealth National Football Tourney’ to be bankrolled by Nureni Makanjuola, the proprietor of Water FC Abuja.
The competition which will hold from November 15 to 20, 2022 at the Stadium of Light Water FC Football Ground, Apo Lokogoma will see the winner smile home with a whopping N1 million prize money and other mouth-watering prizes for all the participating teams.
Speaking with Sporting Tribune in Abuja, Makanjuola said he is organising the competition to honour his idol and business guru, Mr Femi Otedola, who has remained his source of inspiration from childhood as well as to promote national grassroots football where youth can display their skills and talents and represent Nigeria in international competitions.
“We are here because of a great man, a brother, an uncle, Chief Femi Otedola, that I cherish so much. It has been my longtime dream and I have been putting him in my prayers that Almighty God should give him long life, prosperity and more wealth.
“I promised myself that if God can grant my request for him to clock 60 years, I will celebrate him. He is a man I have never met in my life, but he is one of my idols, an icon that I cherish and this gave birth to the Ote-4-wealth National Championship in Abuja.
“I want to use what I know best to celebrate him and what I know and love to do is football business. That is why, we are organizing this national tournament where 36 teams and FCT will compete in the tournament.”
He added, “We have a lot of fantastic prizes for the winner, the winner will smile home with N1 million to send a signal that we are celebrating him. There will be individual prizes for the highest goal scorer, most valuable player, best goalkeeper amongst others. All the teams will be taken care of and rewarded.
He called on well-to-do individuals and corporate organisations to provide platforms for youth to display their skills thus reducing social vices in the society.
