Lagos Island Team, Pashi Street wins MTN Lagos Street Soccer Championship

The MTN Lagos Street Soccer Season Two came to an end last Sunday at the legendary Campos Square playing ground on the Lagos Island where Pashi Street beat a hard fighting Koilo Street team via a penalty shoot-out to emerge the 2009 champions.

The two Lagos Island teams had qualified for the championship final stage by defeating their opponents: Bolowotan and 41 Streets in another pulsating encounter earlier. Koilo players missed many scoring chances which could have changed the outcome of the game, but were not able to capitalize on their opportunities including a penalty kick that their captain missed.

Pashi Street is known to boast of a steady and ready crew under the leadership of its coach, Oris Moshood Olawale as was reflected in their remarkable performance. Speaking after the victory, Olawale said, “The whole tournament is simply brilliant. It means so much to me and my boys that we are able to win this tournament. This is simply a dream come true and easily the best moment of my life."

Apart from the horde of over 2,000 fans and supporters from both teams, in attendance were the officials of the Lagos State Government and MTN Nigeria. The penalty shoot-out ended with Pashi Street winning with four goals to Koilo’s two.

MTN’s Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Bola Akingbade, while fielding questions from journalists said, "The sponsorship provides an opportunity for brand MTN to enrich the lives of our customers by connecting them particularly those at the grassroots with their passion (love for football). It also provides a platform to give upcoming footballers an opportunity to follow their dreams of becoming future international soccer stars like Kanu Nwankwo, Mikel Obi and others.”

He also said that, “The project involves connecting youths to their dreams. It also encourages them to stay focused on their goals, as well as remain on top of their game. The enthusiasm that each player brings to the game and the resulting team-work is truly remarkable.”

A series of knock-out rounds of 1,116 games featuring 542 Street teams from 347 wards within the State took place between April and December.

With this victory, Pashi will embark on a playing tour of South Africa, the first African country to host the FIFA World Cup. This is in addition to the cash prize of 2 million naira. Koilo Street is billed for a tour of Dubai in addition to the runners-up cash prize of 1 million naira. The third place winner, Bolowotan Street of Ikorodu gets N750,000 plus an all-expenses playing tour of Ghana, while last year’s champion, 41 Road of Amuwo Odofin gets the 4^th prize of half a million naira.

Lagos State Government in collaboration with the nation’s leading telecommunication company, MTN launched the Street Soccer Championship in 2008 to identify new talents and give young footballers a chance to hit the limelight. This year, the knock-out tournament ran from May through to December, and across all 57 local government areas in the State.