By Jacob Ajom

Preliminaries of the Annual Lagos MTN street soccer championship are billed to kick off March 1 in all the designated centres across the state. The round of 16 begins on May 7 to 15.

BABLO FC of Amuwo Odofin, Winner of The 3rd MTN street soccer

Speaking at a pre-championship media chat, chairman of the Lagos state Football Association, Seyi Akinwunmi said this year’s championship would witness a marked difference as prizes for winners and other consolation prizes have been increased.

Said he, “the 4th season of the competition promises to be fulfilling and would leave a joyful mark in the lives of winners,’ as he announced a whopping N11 million prize money.

The breakdown shows that the winning team will take home N5 million, N3 m for the runners up while the second and third runners up get N2 m and N1 m respectively.

The state FA boss insisted that the standard was bound to improve as season four was proposed to be a bench mark in officiating, talent discovery, facility improvement and in organisation.

He disclosed that this was the first time the state FA was handed the responsibility of organising the competition.

“From inception, the competition which is sponsored by MTN Nigeria had been presented by the ministry of sports, youth and social development. But this year, the FA has been handed the programme to run,” he said, remarking that Lagos youth had benefitted tremendously from the annual event, “which has become a yearly phenomenon which everybody looks forward to.”

The participants will be insured and in event of any permanent disability the victim will take home N1 million.