The Island All Stars Sports Club International Above-45 Football Tournament has concluded on a high note, with the organisers already looking ahead to an even bigger football programme after what was described as a highly competitive inaugural two-matchday tournament.

Speaking exclusively to Sports247 after the grand finale, Dr. Ike Okorafor, Director of Sports, Island All Stars Sports Club International, expressed satisfaction with the performances of the participating teams and the overall quality of the competition.

Read Also: Dinice Royal Complete Dramatic Comeback to Win Island All Stars Over-45 Championship | Sports247 Nigeria

According to Okorafor, the tournament delivered the level of competitiveness expected from experienced players, with no team finding it easy against the other.

“The competition went well. I won’t say it exceeded our expectations as it was very competitive. No teams were pushed over,” Okorafor told Sports247.

The tournament represented a significant change from the organisers’ previous format. While Island All Stars had traditionally staged a one-day competition, this year’s edition was expanded into a two-matchday tournament, providing teams with more opportunities to compete.

Okorafor praised all the participating teams for their commitment and performances throughout the championship.

“I am really happy with all the teams’ performances. This is the premiere of the two-matchday tournament. Hitherto, we have been doing a one-day tournament. Next year, we will still make it better.”

The tournament featured competitive encounters that produced plenty of goals, dramatic moments and individual performances, culminating in Dinice Royal Investment being crowned champions after their dramatic comeback victory over Network Times.

However, rather than resting on the success of the tournament, the organisers are already preparing for their next major project.

Okorafor revealed that the Island All Stars Super League is scheduled to begin towards the end of September and continue through October and November.

“We are going to kick off our Super League September ending and will run through October and November. It will be bigger and better as we will have more teams competing,” he disclosed.

The planned Super League represents another step in the organisers’ efforts to provide regular competitive football opportunities for veteran players while strengthening the community around All Stars football.

With the successful completion of the Above-45 tournament serving as a foundation, expectations will now be high for the forthcoming league. From a one-day tournament to a two-matchday championship—and now a Super League—the Island All Stars movement is clearly gathering momentum.

The post “Next Year Will Be Bigger and Better” — Island All Stars Unveil Super League Plans After Successful Over-45 Tournament appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

The body of late youth football administrator, tactician and motivator, Coach Osahon Eghe Emokpae will be laid to rest this Friday at Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos, after lying in state at his residence, Sports247 reports.

READ ALSO: Late Coach Osahon’s Family Insists There’s No Controversy Trailing His Death

This was disclosed in a funeral leaflet released by the esteemed and highly humble coach’s family, which further revealed that a funeral service of songs will take place in the evening of Thursday at the same residence – House 5, Close 69 in Satellite Town, Lagos.

The burial is expected to be graced by several players, coaches, well placed administrators, match officials and other stakeholders in grassroots football from all across Lagos.

This is on account of his highly effective role as founder and coach of Young Stars FC of Satellite Town, which produced Super Eagles striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu, among many other successful footballers of the current generation and several others who are now retired.

During his remarkable years as an expert in youth football, Coach Osahon also handled the junior squad of National Grassroots Dream Team and Velje Football Academy of Lagos, as well as Enyimba Feeders of Aba and FC Ebedie of Sagamu in the Nigerian National League (NNL).

Until recently, he was the caretaker committee chairman of Badagry Division Football Association (BDFA), a key interior position to which he was assigned by the executive committee of Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), at a point when the affiliate body was in disarray.

Sports247 gathered further that Coach Osahon’s last major outing was at the beginning of February, when he served as technical adviser of some foreign-based former players in a friendly against Idowu Boys Products at Coker-Orile, Lagos.

A similar setting will now hold in his honour this Thursday at FHA Stadium, FESTAC Town, where players, coaches, organisers, officials and fans will gather from 8am for a posthumous match as part of his burial activities.

The post Late Coach Osahon Emokpae For Burial This Friday At Atan Cemetery In Yaba Area Of Lagos appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Former Super Eagles’ striker, Shola Ameobi was moved to tears while viewing a monument that was lined up in honor of England football legend, Kevin Keegan, who was one of his coaches at Newcastle United, where the tall hitman spent the first 14 years of his career.

Sports247 reports that, the 44-year-old Ameobi later spent a season on loan at Stoke City, then moved to Gaziantep of Turkey, before stints with Crystal Palace, Bolton Wanderers, Fleetwood Town and Notts County, but he remained totally devoted to The Magpies.

Keegan, who had two tenures as Newcastle’s gaffer (1992-1997 and 2008) was one of the tacticians who helped Ameobi stabilise himself at Saint James’s Park, where the striker spent time in the Toon academy from 1995 to 2000, with his formative years guided by the England legend.

Ameobi, who starred for Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, under the charge of late Stephen Okechukwu Keshi as handler of the Super Eagles, has now paid homage to Keegan by turning up at a public monument where he viewed a sea of flowers, scarves, flags, cones and footie tops submittted by Toon fans.

The dark-skinned ex-international rubbed his eyes as he viewed the splash of memorabilia spread across the floor in honour of ‘King Kev,’ who died on Monday aged 75, after being diagnosed with stomach cancer, leaving behind fond memories of how he thrilled the world of football as a player and coach.

In honour of the late England national team star, Ameobi, who scored 53 goals for Newcastle and is now an ambassador of the Tyneside outfit, remained solemn and did not speak a word, while wiping tears from his eyes.

Sports247 reports further that, while Ameobi revealed his emotions in action alone and chose not to speak, the club’s current coach, Eddie Howe said Keegan, who also played for Liverpool and Southampton of England as well as SV Hamburg of Germany, was an ‘inspiration.’

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