… Urges Greater Backing for Grassroots Sports Development

In a celebration of skill, perseverance, and grassroots sportsmanship, Young Stars FC emerged victorious at the 2024 Badagry Division Football Association (BDFA) – Real Acts of Kindness (RAK) League Finals, claiming the coveted ₦500,000 grand prize. The thrilling final, held on Saturday August 31st at the Nigerian French Language Village sports field in Ajara, Badagry, marked the culmination of the sixth edition of the tournament, which has become a cornerstone of youth development in Lagos State.

The BDFA-RAK League, sponsored over the last six years by Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development and the visionary behind the RAK Development Foundation, has consistently provided a platform for young talents to shine. This year’s edition saw 67 teams vying for glory, with Chekas United FC and Legend FC securing the second and third positions, earning ₦300,000 and ₦200,000 respectively. Additional rewards were also awarded, including medals for standout players and officials, emphasizing the league’s commitment to recognizing excellence at every level.

Reflecting on the impact of the tournament, Ogunlende expressed immense satisfaction with the strides made over the years. “It started as one simple tournament, but today we are impacting lives,” he remarked. “The BDFA-RAK League is more than just a competition; it’s a platform for nurturing raw talent, offering valuable exposure, and charting a course for these players to achieve their dreams.”

A notable success story from the league is Roro FC, a team that has progressed from participating in the BDFA-RAK League to representing Lagos State on a national stage. “If we do the mathematics for group one and two, we have touched the lives of over 2,000 youths (in this edition), giving them the opportunity to showcase their talent. One of the teams that played in our league two years ago, Roro FC, is now playing for the state at the national level, and it’s because we gave them this platform and they won here,” Ogunlende highlighted.

The league’s growth and the success of teams like Roro FC underscore the critical role grassroots sports play in nurturing future stars. Ogunlende, passionate about expanding these opportunities, called on political office holders and philanthropists to bolster their support for grassroots sports initiatives. Speaking in furtherance; “Sporting events like this engage people and provide our youths with the opportunity to showcase their talents,” he said. “We are in a digital era, and as you can see, everybody here is recording, people are watching from abroad, we are streaming live. It just gives our young talents that opportunity to be spotted, and you know, when you are spotted in a community, when they go out, they remember the community and are able to bring back some sort of economic impact to the community.”

Looking ahead, Ogunlende revealed ambitious plans for the league’s future, saying he would like to see more gender equality. “I would like to see women, for gender equality (and inclusion). More importantly, we can do a lot more by bringing more people, more officials, international scouts, because there’s a lot of talents here. So if we are able to intentionally bring in sporting officials, then we are giving our boys better exposure and opportunity to be able to take them out of their immediate community and grow as big as they can,” he emphasized.

Dr. Martins Osondu, Chairman of the BDFA, echoed Ogunlende’s sentiments, noting that this year’s league has been the most impactful yet. “This year’s league has touched every community in Badagry (Badagry Division of Lagos State) as they were properly represented. Next year, the RAK league will be further expanded to encompass the children’s league and RAK female league,” Osondu stated.

However, Osondu also drew attention to a significant challenge facing the division-the lack of a sports facility in Badagry. “Badagry Division, among the five divisions that make up IBILE in Lagos State, has been participating in sports for over 45 years, but we don’t have a stadium, not even a small complex,” Osondu lamented. He pointed out that despite producing renowned footballers such as Emmanuel Amunike, Samson Siasia, Sunday Oliseh, Taribo West, Victor Ikpeba, Henry Nwosu among many others, the division remains underserved in terms of infrastructure. “The Lagos State government must address this if we are to continue developing talents at this level,” he urged.

The success of the 2024 BDFA-RAK League Finals, coupled with the ongoing efforts to enhance inclusivity and support for young athletes, highlights the tournament’s significance as a beacon of hope and opportunity for the youth of Badagry Division.

With leaders like Ogunlende driving the vision, the BDFA-RAK League is poised to continue its transformative role in grassroots sports development, ensuring that the dreams of young athletes in Lagos State are not only realized but celebrated on a grand scale.