Lagos – Some stakeholders at the just-concluded Gulder Five-A-Side soccer competition have adjudged the tournament a success, as it provided a platform for budding talents to expose their potential.

The event also provided an avenue for top coaches to identify talented players, who could be nurtured for future national and international competitions.

“It was indeed a glamorous end for people from all walks of life as they had their fill at the fun-filled competition that rallied the `who is who’ in soccer,’’ remarked some soccer pundits.

Top coach Henry Nwosu, former captain of the Super Eagles, said the competition was a great success as it was able to bring together talented players from across the country.

Nwosu on Monday said that the event also encouraged enthusiasts of the sport to know that there were other opportunities they could explore to display their talents.

“I wish there can be a national league for the Five-A-Sides, just like the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), because it is not easy to play as it involves a lot of movements on the pitch.

“And with this event, known names in the sport have been able to witness a lot of skilled players that can be motivated to take to this brand of soccer,’’ Nwosu said.

Mitchell Obi, Vice-Chairman, Master Sports International, told NAN that the event was one of the competitions with the biggest prize-money in football in the country.

“The competition has been stimulating and glamorous; it presents itself as one of the platforms available to players outside the NPL to express their skills and be rewarded.

“It also gives them an edge in preparation for bigger competitions in the game, while enhancing their skills and providing them the opportunity to move into higher grounds.

“In this competition, we have presented some of the big names in Nigerian football and this is because the objective of the event is to showcase talents,” Obi said.

The likes of Nduka Ugbade, Assistant Coach of the Eaglets, Austin Eguavoen, the U-23 coach, and Joe Erico, former Super Eagles Assistant Coach, were among those who graced the finals.

No fewer than 2,000 people from all the zones in the country participated in the preliminary stages of the competition, but only 14 teams participated in the national finals.

The finals ended on a convivial note as some musicians were invited to thrill the fans that attended the event.

The Nigeria Breweries Plc., sponsors of the event, gave out free drinks, in addition to the mouth-watering prize-money to the top three winners of the competition.

There was also a raffle draw to wrap up the fun-filled day.

Sholly Babes of Lagos, the overall winners, smiled home with N5 million; the runners up, Majeef Soccer of Port Harcourt, bagged N2 million, while third-placed Inter FC of Enugu took home a consolation prize of N1 million. (NAN)