The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices and the Enugu State Mini-Football Association have concluded arrangements for the successful hosting of a maiden six-aside Football tournament in Enugu State.
The National Coordinator of POCACOV, Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this on Friday to newsmen.
Amaraizu spoke after an inaugural meeting on the tournament at the IGP POCACOV Resource Centre, Enugu.
The meeting was also attended by the Chairman of the Enugu State Mini-Football Association, Ekene Akatobi, and John Nnam, ex-Nigerian International and POCACOV Ambassador.
Amaraizu disclosed that the tourney, which was tagged: “042 Neighbourhood 6-aside Football Tournament,” would hold in the month of August, although no date had yet been fixed.
He announced that the tournament was packaged for the participation of youths from various neighbourhoods in the state for value reorientation, engagement and strategic leadership direction revolving around POCACOV’s initiative.
“Teams are expected to emerge from neighbourhoods in 042, Enugu state’s telephone code. Selections will be made as we intend to set the ball rolling on a date that will be made known in August, 2021,” he said.
In his remarks, Akatobi said the Nigeria mini-football association focused on players’ development, team building, fair-play and interrelations between millions of players and fans who take part in mini-football.
He further noted that mini-football was a means of contributing to the positive development of the society by giving life, good health and unity to the youths.
He said: “The 042 Neighbourhood 6-Aside Mini-Football tournament is an attempt to consolidate on the gains of the just concluded 2nd African mini-football Nations Cup held in Oyo State.
“The selections that will be made at the tournament will form part of mini-football world cup invitation in Ukraine.”
Reacting on the need for the tournament, the Sports Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Kyrian Igwe, described the development as a good initiative aimed at breaking new grounds.
“The tournament will give opportunities for amateur footballers to fill the gap of self discovery, which revolves around POCACOV framework,” Igwe said.