Ekiti State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Mike Awopetu, has said the John Kayode Fayemi U-15 Youth Cup scheduled for five locations in the state on Friday is targeted at discovering budding football talents.
Awopetu said the tournament was also targeted at promoting young athletes in the state and empowering them to further their education and hone their skills.
The commissioner, who spoke at a press conference heralding the maiden JKF Youth Cup U-15, said no fewer than 600 youths comprising 400 boys and 200 girls at the event organised by the Ekiti State FA, would be empowered.
=“Government will continue to create an enabling environment for the corporate bodies to partner with government and ministries, departments and agencies to ensure our youths are engaged at all times,” he said.
The Chairman of the state FA, Mr Bayo Olanlege, said arrangements had been concluded to open an account for the players.
Olanlege said cash deposits into such accounts by the FA could only be withdrawn by the beneficiaries in pursuit of their educational activities, adding that it was a means of encouraging them to develop in education and sports.
The chairman of the JKF football competition, Mr Owoseni Kolawole, said the essence of the tournament was to catch them young and bring the youths to stardom.
