SPORTS: Gov. Aregbesola Gold Cup Tournament Gets Underway In Osogbo

The Governor, State of Osun – Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Gold Cup Tournament gets underway in Osogbo the state capital as trophies to be won was unveiled recently.
The tournament which was an initiative of the Omoluabi Support Group (OSG) in collaboration with Oranmiyan Campaign Group, will feature 32 football teams across all the local government areas of the state.
Addressing journalists on the motive behind the competition, the Chairman,Omoluabi Support Group (OSG), Pastor Israel Alagbe said the group believes in keeping youths off the streets through positive engagement in sports.
The chairman of OSG added that the competition apart from serving the means of youth empowerment, was also conceived to gather support of the vast youthful populace in the state for the re-election bid of Osun state governor in 2014.
Speaking in similar vein, a member of Lagos state House of Assembly and vice chairman of OSG, Hon. Bisi Yusuf, said organizers of the event believe the competition will afford players of the participating teams the opportunity of pursuing their dreams of professional careers in football.
He added that football scouts linked with leading African and European football clubs have already signified their intention to be part of the competition with a view to helping talents that will be discovered to play professional football outside the country.
“We have already arranged with these scouts like we did when a similar competition was organized in Lagos to storm Osun state and pick exceptional talent among the participating teams.We are of the opinion that many talents will be unearthed and they will be able to pursue their dreams with the aid of these scouts.”
Shortly before unveiling the trophy, the governor, Aregbesola thanked the organizers for identifying with him at this crucial moment and called on leaders in the country to continue to map out plans that can keep the youths positively engaged to move the country towards development.
Aregbesola maintained that youths in the state have in the past proven they are not bereft of talents,but only needed to be given rooms to exhibit their God-given gift, saying the opportunity the competition will provide will complement various programmes of his government to empower the youths.
NIGERIAN PILOT