As the Season 10 of the Channels International Kids Cup nears winding up on Sunday, the participants have expressed joy about the soccer competition and the opportunity it offered children for interaction.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the competition which began on May 21 at the Teslim Balogun stadium, Surulere, Lagos, has children from Republic of Benin, Ghana and from across the country.
The kids who spoke to NAN on Friday said they were happy to be part of the project that allowed them to travel out of their various states to interact with others.
NAN reports that the Channels International Kids Cup is organised by Channels Television, Nigeria, has the objective of promoting grassroots football development.
The competition which became international this year, has 16 teams slugging it out for honours.
The Coach of Military Cantonment Primary School, Biu, Borno State, Abogo Larema, told NAN that the kids were excited coming to Lagos for the first time, adding that it was a pleasant experience.
He said: “Firstly, we give thanks to God for making us to make it to Lagos, to be sincere; the competition is all about integrating the youth from all parts of the country.
“It gives the kids avenue to meet their counterparts and because many of the players are coming to Lagos for the first time gives us hope of a better future.
“In terms of organisation, I can rate it 80 per cent because there are some hiccups here and there. The Kids’ Cup is all about age category.
“Normally in competitions, you have some challenges in screening in spite of the fact that the organisers try their best. We have played two matches so far and we lost both matches.’’
The team’s Captain, Barnabas Silas, said he had been enjoying the tournament which made him to forget the troubles at home.
Silas said: “We are enjoying the tournament and I have made friends with some the players from the other states. As for me, I have forgotten about the problems at home.
“This tournament is a good one and I want to advise other kids outside Lagos to take the competition seriously to make their future bright.’’
Another primary six player from the team, Philip Umoru, expressed his joy having the opportunity to visit Lagos.
A coach from Oke Ifako Primary School, Lagos, Dada Ogunbode, said the competition had helped the kids to discover their talents at a tender age.
Ogunbode said: “I will like to thank Channels TV for organising this kind of competition; they are helping in the development of the youth.
“Many of them like sports and competitions like this help them to discover their talents.
“This is our first time of participating; we want them to continue doing such a thing because in our local government area, they are introducing football. We have been trying to have this kind of competition, we like it.
“The children are well fed while some even confessed that they don’t enjoy such meal at their various homes. The logistics are all up to standards.’’
The team’s Captain, Opeyemi Ogunkola, told NAN that the match with other kids was interesting.
Coach Atiso Valentine of Kotobabi Primary School, Ghana, one of the foreign participants, said he had a good impression about the competition so far.
Valentine said: “My impression about the tournament is that the organisation is very good, though I have a little problem with the officiating.
“I hope they do something about it. I also want to say that coaching the kids has not been easy. Our target is to get to the final or at least the semi-finals.’’
Their Captain, David, said that his team had a formidable squad that could take them far in the competition among the strong contenders.
He said: “The teams we have played so far are very good and they played well. Lagos is very comfortable, seeing the stadium signifies that the tournament is a big and serious affair.
“The other teams play very well but I think we played better than them.’’
