*Semi-final, Friday, December 3 & final, Sunday, December 5
*As 20 teams battle for U-21 Cup in Lagos
After weeks of football activities among youths in Lagos State at the grassroots level, the final of the BOS Youth Cup would be played on Sunday, December 5, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.
The BOS Youth Cup, a football competition for youths under 21 years across all councils in Lagos State, is part of efforts by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration to curb restiveness and promote sports and youth development in Lagos State.
The first edition of the BOS Youth Cup, which started in October, emanated from the office of the Senior Special Assistant (Sports) to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu alongside SSAs from related youth and social development ministries, under the BOS Academy.
This was contained in a statement issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, on Monday.
According to a member of the Protocol and Logistic Committee of the BOS Youth Cup, Mr Tayo Sanyaolu, over 20 matches have been played so far across the state by the 20 teams, which were divided into five groups.
He said the team with the highest points in each group would qualify into the quarter-final, adding that three best losers would be picked to join the five group leaders to make eight teams in the quarterfinals.
The quarter-final matches would be played on Wednesday, December 1 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium while the semi-final of the tournament would be played on Friday, December 3 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.
Over 5,000 youths took part in the screening exercise for the BOS Youth Cup held across the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in 20 centres to select players and teams taking part in the football tournament.
The trials of eligible players with LASSRA cards and shortlisting of 23 players, comprising three goalkeepers and 20 outfield players for the BOS Youth Cup took place at Local Governments (LGAs)/Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) level for Intra-scouting matches among the councils to select All-Star Players for the 20 LGAs for the competition.
Speaking to journalists recently about the competition, the Lead of the Technical Committee of the BOS Youth Cup, Mr Anthony Adeboye, said the football tournament has been well accepted by the target youths, saying that the turn-out of young people for the competition at every location is encouraging.
He said the BOS Youth Cup is one of the events for grassroots football development, noting that professionals are not allowed to play in the tournament that it is strictly for participants who are residents of a local government.
Adeboye also disclosed that some scouting agencies and corporate organisations within and outside Nigeria are involved in the BOS Youth Cup tournament for football development, empowerment and academic scholarship for players participating in the competition to bring glory to themselves, families, local governments, and Lagos State.