2020 Egba Youth Football Championship Kicks-Off On March 6th

By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
The opening kick-off of 2nd edition of Egba Youth Football Championship will be between Gajimaji FC and Federal Medical Centre (FMC) FC on March 6th, 2020 at Muda Lawal stadium, Asero, Abeokuta, and it will end on April 19th.
The youth soccer event will feature a total of twenty four grassroot football clubs across six local governments in Ogun Central Senatorial district, and they have since been drawn into six group of four clubs each.
The official draw was held on Thursday at the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta, and the organiser made it clear to all the clubs managers and players that the event is aimed at discovery of talents and to eradicate criminal activities and other social vices within the district.
The draw ceremony had in attendance dignitaries in the round leather game across the Egba land as well as the Olu of Owode, HRH Oba Kolawole Sowemimo, and host of sports writers who actively participated in the official draw with others too.
Speaking on the expectations of players and managers at the yearly event, one of the organiser’s, Alex Soyinka, noted that there were lots of packages for participating clubs as adequate security and fair officiating have been arranged.
Furthermore, Alex, popularly called Ayinla Egba revealed that a giant trophy and sum of fifty thousand naira has been set aside as prize money for the winners while the second and third place clubs would also go home with cash reward too.
“There will be individual awards for players that distinguished themselves. Award such as Most Valuable Player (MVP), Highest Goal Scorer (HGS), and Best Goalkeeper, adding that all these awards will come with cash prize.
“The competition is not for fun alone, but to facilitate developmental projects to the host community and it will serve as empowerment for the youths.
“The clubs were divided into six groups, with the winners and runners-up in each group, and four best losers will advance to the round of 16, while the championship progresses to the final stage. It will be played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays alone.”
In another development, Hon. Olanrewaju Edun, representing Abeokuta South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Abuja in his magnanimity and to identify with the football championship has promised to kit all the eight clubs that will qualify for the quarterfinals with complete set of jerseys.
Hon Edun, represented at the event by Mrs. Bola Sunday disclosed that he would continually identify and support the football championship and to support youth in his constituency and Egba land in general.
In the same vein, HRH Oba Sowemimo appealed to all participants to play according to the rule of the game and to see the football championship as an avenue to launch themselves  into national reckoning. 
Meanwhile, the two clubs, Gajimaji FC and FMC FC that will play the opening kick-off are in group A of the championship alongside TACN FC and Egba Anglical Diocese FC.
In Group B are Mabak FC, Infinity FC, Ogun NYSC FC, and Jimalok FC, while the Group C has Mighty Jet FC, Surveyors FC, Eri Football Academy, and Samba FC.  Playing in Group D are Midas Touch FC, Unique Stars, Young Stars and Dream Team FC.
The Group E comprises of Winners FC, Eddie Aina Boys, Oloyede FC and Favour FC, just as Group F will parade the likes of Ajegunle Boys, AR United, Allen Taylor Academy, and Mighty Star FC.