As part of efforts by Rafiu Oladipo Foundation to celebrate ex- internationals in the country, the foundation in conjunction with Winners Golden Belt is organizing a football match for former footballers to enable them showcase once more to the general public the talent that made them great.

Rafiu Ladipo

Disclosing this to the media yesterday Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, noted that the championship which is slated for Sunday, July 17 to August 28 will be played at the Nigeria Ports Authority Play Ground, Surulere and will involve 14 teams namely; Firm All Stars, Arsenal Nigeria, Ojota All Stars, Ikorodu All Stars, Grasodon All Stars, FKJ, NPA All Stars, Paco All Stars, Apapa- Ajegunle All Stars, Ajah All Stars, Eti- 0sa All Stars, LASU All Stars, FESTAC All Stars   and St Mary All Stars, among others.

According to him, the Foundation decided to organize the tournament to create room for ex- internationals to recreate and ensure they are not only remembered when they are dead but honored while alive.

“We are organizing this tournament to not only celebrate those that brought honour to the country through football but to also recognize their contributions which seems to have been forgotten over the years”, noted Ladipo, who also doubles as President of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club.

Tournament’s ambassador, Henry Nwosu while commending the Foundation for the noble idea, explained that the championship will enable former players to re-connect and have a sense of belonging even as he promised that the technical department will ensure good officiating as well as check the use of machineries in the month-long championship.

The competition which will be played on a round robin basis will see the winner going home with N500,000 while the first and second runners-up will pocket N300,000 and N200,000 respectively with the fourth best team getting N100,000.