It was a gathering of sports Enthusiasts over the last weekend When Lagos State played Host to the maiden edition Of the American Flagship Football exhibition game at National Stadium, Surulere, With a game between Lagos Marine Islanders and Lagos Marine Mainlanders.
The game ended with The Mainlanders scoring 28 Points while the Islanders Scored 6 points. Flagship Football is an alternative to Round-leather football and Rugby and it is the most creative game in the United States of America after basketball.
The highlight of the event Was the presence of the representative of the Governor Of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who urged the Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA) and Lagos Marine American Football Club to consider Visiting his state to explore Youthful talents that are in Abundance therein, promising to partner the organisations to use sports to grow Wealth and promote peace In Nigeria.
Akeredolu, represented by the state Commissioner For Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, declared that his Administration will soon Build a world class football Academy to train, grow And expose youths in Ondo State to international clubs, Stating that sport is a gold Mine that his administration And governors in Western Nigeria plan to use to wage War against the surge of Youth unemployment currently ravaging the country.
He vowed to use his connections across the length And breadth of Nigeria to Revolutionise the growth of American Flagship Football Game in the country, adding That, “if one of the objectives of the exhibition game Is to feature many of the Players who would form the Bulk of the team to represent Nigeria in international Football games, we have to Applaud your organisations For this significant contributions to sports development In this country.
“It is equally noteworthy That your organisations do Not only set out to unite all American Football Houses In Nigeria but to create opportunities for the youth in This country. These opportunities will no doubt propel these youth to actualize Their potentials to be financially independent, to be Able to explore the world, to Win laurels for their country, And thereby in most cases Enable them to give back to the community.
In his remarks, the founder and chairman of NAFA, Mr. Babajide Akeredolu, said the purpose of the exhibition game was to create awareness on the existence and importance of the American Flagship Football game in Nigeria so that Nigerians especially the younger generation could have an ample of opportunities to exhibit their talents, get exposed to the world and become great in life.
“People focus more on football round-leather game in Nigeria but we want to offer Nigerians and investors to a new dimension. By the grace of God and the support of Nigerians, we are starting a league in March Aside the two teams of Lagos Marine, some teams based in the South-South, East and North have registered. We will hit Nigeria by storm and the youth shall be great for it,” he said.
Source: Nairaland.