Lagos International Football Tournament gets new date on July 02, 2013 in Sports The organizers of the Lagos International Football Tournament (LIFT) have announced a new date of September 5-8, 2013 for the maiden edition of the tourney. The initiator of the programme and ex- Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju explained in Lagos on Monday why a postponement of the tournament became imperative. In a press statement issued on Monday in Lagos, Mutiu said “It has become very necessary to postpone the tournament which was earlier scheduled for July 25 to 28 to September 5 through 8, 2013 to allow our Muslim brothers in the participating teams observe the month of Ramadan which begins July 7 and ends August 6, 2013We are very sensitive to issue like this, so we have no choice than to respect the right of our Muslim brothers who are training hard a head of the tournament”. Also speaking on the new date, Seyi Akinwunmi, Chairman, Lagos State Football Association said the postponement is inevitable in view of the fact that, July has suddenly become very busy for the Lagos FA. “Apart from the fact that the Ramadan is coming up in the month of July, the Federation Cup is also coming at the-same period. With Lagos State as the host of the two tournaments, we definitely have to re-schedule one of the events. So after a meeting of all stakeholders, it was unanimously agreed that the best period after July is to target the FIFA Free Week, which runs from September 6 -10 “ he posited. In his own remarks on the new development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Sports & Youth Development, Hon. Waid Enitan Oshodi said the most important thing as far as the Lagos State Government is concerned is the success of the tournament. “If the postponement will translate to good organization and overall success of the tourney, the Lagos State Government is in full support. Let me tell you, from day one, His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State has pledged his support for the tournament, not only for this year, but for the subsequent editions. We must all work together to make the first edition a success. With this, the next edition will be a piece of cake” he said. The Lagos International Football Tournament (LIFT) is an annual football fiesta designed to promote and enhance the quality of the game of soccer both in terms of strategic management, organization and tactical implementation of policies and programmes in Nigeria and globally. Apart from the change in date, from July to September, the organizers assured the general public and soccer-loving Nigerians that the tournament, first of its kind in Nigeria will deliver on all its promises as all plans remained unchanged with all the clubs pledging their participation even with the change of date.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 04:26:43 +0000
Trending Topics
© 2015