•Ismaily, Espanyol, Kotoko, Pillars billed for three-day contest

GOVERNOR Babatunde Raji Fashola Wednesday pledged his support for the forthcoming Lagos International Football Tournament (LIFT), a baby of Super Eagles’ former midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju.

The competition, scheduled to hold from July 25 to 28 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, will feature Ismaily SC of Egypt, Asante Kotoko of Ghana, RCD Espanyol of Spain and Kano Pillars of Nigeria.

Commending Adepoju for organising the LIFT, Fashola, at a press briefing to herald the event, assured the former 3SC general manager of his government’s partnership, adding that the tournament has come at a time the nation is relishing the excitement of the Super Eagles’ victory in the recently concluded AFCON Championship.

Speaking on the need to consolidate the gains and benefits of EKO 2012 National Sports Festival, Fashola, represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, said the government’s willingness to partner with Adepoju demonstrated its commitment to the development of sports, especially, football.

“Therefore, this tourney is timely, unique and coming from the stable of one of Nigeria’s greatest football icons, Mutiu Adepoju, you will agree with me that it cannot come at a better time. I have absolute confidence that the people of Lagos and Nigeria at large will experience real football excitement with the caliber of the teams lined up to participate in the Lagos soccer fiesta,” he said.

In his remarks, Adepoju said the programme was his way of thanking “almighty Allah, the government and people of Nigeria for the goodwill, love and support that I have received from them during my 25 years football career.

“I feel it is important to give back to the society, and one way of giving back is through LIFT, an annual soccer fiesta, which would help to re-position the game of soccer not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa.”

He disclosed that the LIFT is an annual football fiesta designed to promote and enhance the quality of football in terms of strategic management, organisation and tactical implementation of policies and programmes in Nigeria.

According to Adepoju, the tourney will also provide opportunity for youth football clubs to mingle, train and interact with their soccer stars and icons during a football clinic packaged for the benefits of the various football academies in Nigeria, adding that RCD Espanyol of Spain will also use the opportunity of their trip to Nigeria to launch their youth team in Lagos.