Grassroot Football Devt: Batako Lapai promises to consolidate on predecessor's achievements

Grassroot Football Devt: Batako Lapai promises to consolidate on predecessor's achievements ..........as Niger United FC wins Fresh Cup finals By Abubakar Hassan The newly appointed Director General of Federation of Youths Soccer Clubs (FEYSOC), Niger State, Alh. Umar Batako Lapai has promised to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor to develop the game of football at grassroot levels in the state. The state FEYSOC Director General stated this while speaking to sports Journalists during the finals of the first edition of Fresh Cup, in Minna, last Saturday. He admitted that FEYSOC was not as vibrant as it used to be in the past, but promised to resuscitate the vibrancy FEYSOC was known for in terms of organising youths age group football competitions that will bring about grassroot football development in the state. Alh. Batako Lapai who was the immediate past coordinator of Lapai chapter of FEYSOC revealed that he has been in FEYSOC for over two decades and as such reviving its activities will not be a too difficult task, especially with the support of all stakeholders of the round leather game in the state. He added that FEYSOC will be reactivated in all the 25 local government areas of Niger and that by the first quarter of 2022 the vibrancy in FEYSOC will be visible for all to see through series of activities it will organise. The Niger State Director General of FEYSOC commended the organizers of the Fresh Cup football competition and also congratulated them for a hitch free and successful tournament. Niger United FC of Minna emerged the champions of the first edition of the Fresh Cup, defeating Farm Centre Fc also of Minna by 3-0, in the finals decided at the late Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna on Saturday. Trophies, medals, certificates and other prizes were presented to the winners, first and second runners up, as well as teams and individual players who distinguished themselves during the championship. The Two finalists went home with a cash prize of N50,000 each, while the organizers got N150,000 courtesy of Niger state football association Chairman, Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, who is the donor and sponsor of the tournament. The competition was organized by Chanchaga Local Government football council under the chairmanship of Honourable Haruna Jibrin Soja, in honour of Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh.