Lagos –  Mr Deji Elumoye, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, on Tuesday said that the union had plans to raise professional athletes among journalists as from 2015.

Elumoye spoke  at the National Stadium, Lagos, where the council is holding this year’s media games which opened on Saturday.

He said that the union had young players that could compete both locally and internationally.

According to the chairman, the union has many fresh graduates and school leavers among its members who were strong and had a lot of potential in the area of sports..

Elumoye said that as from 2015 the union would begin quarterly events to prepare members for greater sporting challenges.

“Our aim is to make practicing journalists professionals both in football and other sports.

“We will begin quarterly sporting events for the over 15,000 practicing journalists in the state to raise their awareness.

“In the long run, we want to raise a team to represent us at the state and national levels.

“We have young journalists who have age on their side,’’ he said.

A five-a-side football encounter between This Day Newspapers and Galaxy TV on Monday ended goalless, while Federal Information chapel defeated the Source Magazine four goals to nil.

In other matches, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and Vanguard Newspapers played a 1-1 draw, while Tell Magazine defeated Daar Communications 1-0.

Complete Sports also lost to Super Sports Newspaper 2 – 0, while Lagos Information beat TVC 3-0.

Earlier on Saturday, the major official sponsor of the games, Med-view Airline, played a goalless draw with Team Lagos at the opening football match.