All is now set for the debut edition of the Jagaban Cup with the draw conducted today, Monday November 14th, 2022 at the Lagos Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Secretariat, National Stadium, Lagos.

The tournament which is packaged by 36 Lion and Diamond Sports is held to galvanize support for the 2023 Presidential Election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and it is also organised to help tap talents from the grassroots with top European scouts from Belgium, Czech Republic, Norway and Finland already on ground for the tourney.

The tournament kicks off tomorrow morning at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos with 36 Lion, Messiah FC, Badagry United, De Potters and MFM FC expected to lock horns in Group A.

While, Smart City, Olukismet, FC Bethel, Jo Sportyne and Ikorodu City will slug it out in Group B.

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Hajj Olawale Gafar Liameed who thanked all the partycipating teams for attending the tournaments and he also outlined the reasons for the tourney and the role the European scouts from Belgium, Czech Republic, Norway and Finland would play to ensure the right talents are spotted.

Hajj Liameed said the tournament would be used to help ginger support for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to ensure he emerges as the President of Nigeria at the end of the 2023 Presidential Election and that the Jagaban Cup would be done annually with the aim of spotting future stars.

“I want to thank you all for coming here to make this event happen. There is no other job as good as football and coaching. This is a scouting tournament that involves Belgium, Czech Republic, Norway and Finland,” Hajj Liameed began at the draw ceremony held in Lagos yesterday.

“We will be having minimum of three Europeans for the scouting tournament. It is called Jagaban Cup because Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our father. He is the renewed hope. It’s time to do for him. That’s why we have the hashtag, let’s do for the doer. The competition will be an annual event.

“We will take the competition to the next level. We will host the tournament for a long time. It has come to stay. Asiwaju is a leader and he needs our support. In the name of Jagaban Cup, we are here to build future stars.

“For you to be a talent developer, you must be an identifier. A good talent doesn’t need too many minutes to be recognized. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the best talent developer. This tournament has come to stay. Thanks for coming, God will give you the strength to identify the best talents.

“The scouts are decision makers. If a player is good, he will be recommended. We will also have few scouts who represent the NPFL. Our league needs the best on the domestic font. Some players would be selected to beef up the best teams in Nigeria also.

“The best referees would officiate games, so expect fairness. The scouts are the decision makers. Total package is coming to the club. The budget for this project is #20m. Already we have spent over #25m. It’s like climbing the Mountain to feed our players.

“The more reason we broke the bank to fund this project. This is the first time that we are organizing a Scouting Tournament where clubs didn’t pay a dime. FIFA frowns at third party ownership. If a player is selected, we would allow you deal directly with the scout.

“That’s what we call Total Package. We see Football as Palace and Sky where every bird flies. Every club will deal with scouts directly, we would be there to serve as Supervisors. We won’t collect a dime from your cut. We want the best players to be selected.”

In the opening game billed for tomorrow, Tuesday, 36 Lion will face Messiah FC while Badagry FC and De Potters FC will square up in other Group A tie.

MFM FC and 36 Lion FC will also slug it out in the third game in Group A.

In Group B, Smart City and Olukismet FC will do battle while FC Bethel and Sportyne FC have a date. Ikorodu City and Smart City will complete Day One hostilities also in Group B.

The competition starts tomorrow and ends on Friday with Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos expected to host all the matches.

Day 1 Fixtures

Tuesday, November 15,2022

Group A
36 Lion FC vs Messiah FC
Badagry FC vs De potters FC
MFMFC Lagos vs 36 Lion FC

Group B
Smart City FC vs Olukimet FC
FC Bethel vs Jo Sportyne FC
IkoroduCity FC vs Smart City FC

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