The maiden edition of the HopeAge Football Championship, organised by the HopeAge Foundation of Saint Edmund’s Kingdom Recovery Church, gathered momentum at the Nathaniel Idowu Memorial Football Pitch in Ajegunle on Saturday, with four teams securing places in the semi-finals after an exciting round of matches.
Zone Seven booked its place in the last four with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Zone One, while Zone Eight (Atebo Central) delivered the most emphatic performance of the day by defeating Zone Five 3-0. Zone Six also progressed after recording a comfortable 2-0 win against Zone Four.
The grassroots tournament, which attracted teams from eight zones across various parts of Lagos State, aims to discover football talents, mentor young people, and establish the HopeAge Football Academy.
One of the standout performers on the opening day, 16-year-old winger Goodluck Emmanuel, expressed appreciation to the organisers, saying the competition aligns with his ambition of becoming a professional footballer.
“I want to help Nigerian football, and my dream is to play for Real Madrid someday. This tournament is allowing young players like me to showcase our talents,” he said.
Organisers hail successful opening round
Caleb Ogoriba, Coordinator of the HopeAge Football Championship, described the opening fixtures as a huge success, stating that the organisers were encouraged by the quality of football and the conduct of the participants.
“Everything went well, and we are satisfied that the objectives of the championship are already being realised. The turnout was impressive, and the participating teams came prepared to compete.
“Seven of the eight invited zones participated, and they all displayed commitment and discipline. From what we have seen, we already have the teams for the semi-finals, and we expect even more competitive matches next Saturday,” he said.
Ogoriba explained that beyond football, the championship is a youth development initiative conceived by Saint Edmund through the HopeAge Foundation to positively engage young people.
According to him, the programme seeks to steer youths away from crime, social vices, and other negative influences by providing them with opportunities to channel their talents into productive ventures.
“The vision is to reach young people, instil in them the fear of God, and redirect their energy towards positive activities that will benefit them, society, and the nation. Football is simply the platform through which we are achieving that vision.”
He stressed that although the initiative originated from the Kingdom Recovery Church, participation is open to everyone regardless of religious affiliation.
“There is no religious barrier. Christians, Muslims, and people of other faiths are all welcome. Our objective is to impact lives and demonstrate that God’s love is for everyone,” he added.
All participants to be rewarded
Looking ahead to the semi-finals and final, Ogoriba predicted tougher contests, saying every qualified team would return stronger.
“Everybody wants to win, so it will be difficult to predict the eventual champions. The final will certainly be a thrilling contest.
“However, from the organisers’ perspective, every participant is already a winner because every zone will receive certificates of participation, while prizes will be presented to the first, second, and third-placed teams.”
He disclosed that the competition would also serve as a talent identification exercise for the proposed HopeAge Football Academy.
“Our primary goal is to scout talented players who will become the pioneer students of the HopeAge Football Academy. Judging from what we have seen already, there is enormous talent available.”
Football was introduced after a successful youth empowerment programme
Senior Pastor of Kingdom Recovery Church, Livwell Anamonye, said the football championship forms part of a broader youth empowerment vision initiated by our Father in the Lord, Saint Edmund.
According to him, the foundation’s first edition in 2025 focused on vocational training, scholarships, and leadership development for young people.
“We organised training in soap making, tailoring, baking, and other vocational skills. Professionals from different sectors also mentored the youths on becoming self-reliant instead of depending solely on the government for survival.
“This second phase introduces football because our spiritual father believes sports can transform lives. For a long time, he has been preparing for this academy, and today we are seeing that vision come alive.”
Anamonye, himself a former footballer, expressed optimism that the initiative would produce future international stars.
“Our joy is that we are aligning with the vision of our father in the Lord by taking children off the streets and giving them opportunities to succeed. We believe this academy will produce players who will emulate legends like Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Daniel Amokachi, and Yakubu Aiyegbeni.”
Winners to receive N250,000
A member of the tournament planning committee, Gilbert Chidiebere Nnamdi, said the competition has two major objectives—winning souls and exposing gifted teenage footballers to professional opportunities.
He revealed that talented players discovered during the tournament would form the nucleus of the proposed HopeAge Football Academy, which is expected to compete in the Nigerian football league system, the Peace Cup, and other recognised competitions.
Nnamdi announced that the champions will receive a cash prize of ₦250,000, while the runners-up will earn ₦150,000 and the third-placed team ₦100,000, in addition to trophies and medals.
Individual awards will also be presented for the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Best Team, and other outstanding performances.
“This is not just about entertainment. We are identifying exceptional teenage footballers and preparing them for professional careers,” he said.
Scout identifies emerging talents
Football scout Michael Afonja praised the quality of players on display, noting that several participants possess the potential to progress into professional football.
“From the matches played today, we have already identified about six players with genuine potential. In some competitions, even at a professional level, you may struggle to find one or two exceptional talents, so this is encouraging.
“The organisers’ objectives are achievable because there is quality here.”
Afonja, however, lamented the decline of Ajegunle as Nigeria’s foremost producer of football talent, attributing the situation largely to poor discipline among young players.
“Ajegunle produced some of Nigeria’s greatest footballers, but that dominance has diminished over the years. Today, more outstanding players are emerging from the northern parts of the country because of better discipline and structure.
“We are determined to reverse that trend. Those of us returning from abroad to invest in grassroots football and football academies believe the future remains bright. Initiatives like the HopeAge Championship give us renewed hope that Ajegunle can once again become a major factory for world-class footballers.”
The Director-General of the Championship, MacAnthony Anenechukwu, praised the Convener-General, Saint Edmund, for conceiving what he described as a bold and transformative initiative aimed at empowering young people through football. He said the championship is designed to identify and nurture exceptional talents for the proposed HopeAge Football Academy, which is expected to compete at the highest levels in Nigeria and internationally. According to him, beyond football development, the tournament also serves as an evangelical platform to win souls for Christ and positively impact the lives of young people.
