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Winners Emerge in Atlas cup

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Angels football club and Royaltoms football club emerged champions of the 2024 edition of the Atlas football competition

The competition organised by Alzico LTD is part of its social responsibility in discovering talented footballers for both domestic clubs and the national teams 

The grassroots football tournament featured male and female final in different age categories

The competition which had over 50 football clubs from across Lagos State compete for honors availed the participants a platform to showcase their skills 

STORIES24 had an exclusive interview with the managing Director of ALZICO LTD Abraham santhosh on the Atlas football competition which has ran for 11 years 

WOULD YOU SAY THE ESSENCE OF PUTTING THE COMPETITION TOGETHER HAS  BEEN ACHIEVED  OR IT HAS NOT YOUR TARGET YET?

Great. We are talking about  history. Our company, as you know, is a 57 year old company in Nigeria and, this property where we stay is our own. We have more than 40 properties in the country and we moved in here only in 2010, you know. Almost 14 years back, we moved in here. Those time there was a time this Lagos Badagry expressway was getting built and, you know the road with 10 lane road and railway in between almost was a playground. You know, children were playing on the ground without proper clothing, proper shoes But the skills were there within them. So when we moved in here, as a corporate social responsibility, we thought let us give them a small support , you know to bring out the talent within them. That’s actually how this Atlas Cup started.

So, this year’s  edition was the 11th edition of the Atlas Cup. And, I believe, we are on course. Because this year, 2,000 children played in this tournament. 2,000 children played for almost 4 months. You know, 64 men’s team, 16 women’s team

All from the  locality, maybe in this Lagos state. The Badagry divisional Football Association chairman osondu martins says the biggest tournament of Lagos played for 4 months. It is more than the tournament. It’ is an opportunity for the children to express themselves we are having a scouting tournament in February.

We are going to bring scouts from Europe. They are going to come and see this football tournament for  3, 4 days and select players who will  travel  across the globe. Some will be traveling to Europe. Some will be going to India even in Nigeria into different clubs there.

So, if you ask me, did you really reach success? No. But we are really on the course. This tournament has been a real success . We are able to identify and able to give opportunity for the grassroots football players to come together .

YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A SCOUTING PROGRAM IN FEBRUARY. WHAT IS IT WITH ATLAS AND FOOTBALL? ARE YOU LOOKING AT HAVING A FOOTBALL CLUB THAT WILL PLY THEIR TRADE IN THE NNL OR NPFL VERY SOON?

Basically, our chairman Mr Varnavas Varnava is from Europe. He loves sports . He has been to all editions of the Olympics since 2000 

You know, even though he is an European, he represents Nigeria. You know, I know I’m here for 25 years. So I know in all the past years, whenever Nigeria was playing in the World Cup, he’s part of that game. He also sponsored  some athletes of the Cyprus team in the Olympics

He is bringing  some scouts from Europe and they are going to select the best talents from the scouting programme and give them opportunity to ply their trade in top clubs across Europe and Africa 

I KNOW ALSO THAT YOU PROMISED EXCEPTIONAL TALENTS IN THIS TOURNAMENT EMPLOYMENT IN YOUR COMPANY. HAS THAT FALLEN THROUGH? OR IS IT STILL HAPPENING? 

Of course , We are a company, we as a group, we employ 5,000 employees. Some of the players in the past editions of the tournament  are now part of our company. This time, even out of the 64 teams, one team was our own team even though they failed in the 1st round . That means, the players who played in the past becomes part of the company’s employees, and we allow them to continue, what they are doing.

Basically, we make a open declaration. Any player who plays  in the Atlas cup  We give them opportunity to move to the next level.

NIGERIA HAS ISSUES GETTING IT RIGHT IN AGE GRADE  TOURNAMENTS, FOR SOME YEARS BACK WE WERE DOING WELL  BUT IN RECENT YEARS WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN FAR. THE CHAN CHAMPIONSHIP. HOW CAN THIS TOURNAMENT HELP TO THIS REGARD ? 

Actually, even though we say we are supporting the  Atlas Cup, the real Atlas Cup is organised by the Lagos State coaches association. The Coaches Association are the ones who spot these talents for the Nigeria football federation NFF

When this tournament of 5 months happened, even though we say, oh, we did this tournament, it is the coaches association. You know, we will also support them in organising seminars to bring the coaches up state date with the latest techniques of coaching 

Nigeria has the talent. When you even talk of coaches, they are really talented people. Recently, they have brought some people from abroad to train only coaches

We Not only sponsor football championships we also  support to coaches so that they themselves will be trained for that skill level of coaching goes to another level that they’ll will pass on to the children who are playing on the field 

LETS LOOK AT THE SUPER EAGLES, I KNOW YOU ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOTBALL AND YOU HAVE WIDE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FOOTBALL. NIGERIA IS STRUGGLING TO GET THE TICKET TO THE WORLD CUP, WHAT CAN THE COUNTRY DO TO GET THE TICKET TO THE WORLD CUP HAVING BEEN KNOCKED OUT IN THE LAST WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS BY GHANA?

Football is like a religion in Nigeria. You know, you can take a Nigerian out of Nigeria, but you cannot take football out of a Nigerian.

God has gifted  Nigerian with the skill. You know, you cannot hide talents. The Only thing is the right forums to express themselves. Football is not just a game.

It’s a way of expressing what you are. When a gyms are getting right forum to express themselves, that means they get right forum to play, the skills will be noticed. 

The success of a team  happens when the 11 players come together under the guidance of the right coach who can coach  them the way to play , the team performs like a dance program. You know, it’s something like a group dance program. Everybody has to dance and Nigeria has that skill.

So I strongly believe in Nigeria. Why? The skill nobody poses. I sometimes make a statement, the Nigerian style of football is very difficult to find any where in the globe.

The European football or the Latin American football you see, they are trained for it. We play or we match with them or we exceed them with the talent inborn talent inside us. So, it’s only a matter of time.  The days to come ahead, Nigeria has a great future.

when we say the talents are there. There should be real people on the top who can  identify the right players , the Nigeria Football federation has to come out with the right strategies to bring the right talent across the nation because it’s not meant for, some part of the nation to play.

All the skills has to come together, and there should be somebody who can identify this and this will make a victory. That victory is the victory of Nigeria. It’s only a matter of time. 

ASIDE THE EVENTS IN FEBRUARY WHICH IS A SCOUTING PROGRAMME . YOU JUST HAD THE 11TH EDITION, WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IN THE 12TH EDITION?

For the 12th edition. We are looking at using a bigger facility like the onikan stadium or campos square to give the players enough space to exhibit their talent 

The finals for this year’s edition was played at a small stadium close to the office in orile and it’s made it difficult for the players to really give their best 

We don’t collect gate fees from fans to come watch our tournaments . W e need fans to come and watch beautiful football 

Nigerians are good and we know how to express ourselves. Rather than expressing in wrong areas  football is a way that we can express ourselves great.

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Taiwo Awoniyi Returns To Full Training

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Nottingham Forest striker and Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi has returned to full training after recovering from a serious abdominal injury sustained in May.

The 27-year-old forward had been sidelined after suffering a ruptured intestine, which required a two-stage surgical procedure.

PUNCH Online reported in May that the first phase of the operation was conducted and followed by an induced coma to allow medical staff to closely monitor his condition.

The second stage of the surgery, which involved closing the wound, was successfully completed on the third day.

Following the challenging recovery period, Awoniyi has now rejoined his teammates in training for the first time since May.

A post from Soar Super Eagles on Tuesday via X announced his return, stating, “Taiwo Awoniyi returns to full training after that serious abdominal injury in May. Great to see him back on the grass

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Final salute: Nigeria Bids Buhari Emotional Farewell

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President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima led a galaxy of Nigeria’s elite, including former Presidents, to Daura, Katsina State on Tuesday to pay their final respects as the nation laid to rest the ex-military Head of State and two-term democratically elected President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu personally received Buhari’s flag-draped remains at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina shortly after 2 p.m., following its departure from London earlier that morning aboard the Presidential Aircraft on which Buhari rode during his eight-year tenure.

The burial ceremony, conducted according to Islamic rites by the Chief Imam of Daura, Sheikh Salisu Rabiu, attracted international dignitaries, including President Umaru Sissoci Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Niger, Ali Zeine, and former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou.

Former Vice Presidents Yemi Osinbajo and Atiku Abubakar were also present, alongside the National Assembly leadership, including Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau  Jibrin; Senator Kawu Sumaila, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Senator Sani Bello, Senator Abu Ibrahim, and Senator Yariman Bakura.

Security chiefs in attendance included Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Olufemi Oluyede; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.), and former Director General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi.

Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda led the state government delegation, which included Deputy Governor Faruq Jobe, Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly Nasir Daura, Secretary to the State Government Abdullahi Faskari, and members of the State Executive Council.

Federal Government officials present included Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari; Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Isiaq Salako; and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, among others.

Former President Buhari passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a London hospital.

Vice President Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, President Buhari’s wife Aisha, and other family members accompanied President Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.

President Tinubu, along with Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Umaru Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine, former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou, and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, received the casket of the late President at the foot of the aircraft.

A joint team of military pallbearers comprising nine senior officers laid the casket, draped with the Nigerian flag, on a trolley. The team included Major-General Mohammed Usman, Major-General Oluwafemi Williams, Major-General Shuaibu Nuhu, Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ajodo, Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa, Air Vice Marshal Adeniyi Herbert Amesinlola, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sanni, and Air Vice Marshal Obinna Obiabaka. Major General Mike Alechenu coordinated the team.

The pallbearers wheeled the former leader’s casket in a slow march, in sync with the hymn “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” passing through a full military guard of honour comprising six officers and 96 soldiers drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces.

President Tinubu and others walked behind the casket trolley in a solemn procession. The pallbearers escorted the casket into a waiting military hearse for the one-hour journey to Daura, where funeral prayers and the burial ceremony took place.

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Official Disclaimer Notice  From The Honourable  Minister  Of State For  Finance , DR. Doris Uzoka -Anite

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It has come to our attention that a fraudulent website — lankantamil.com — is falsely using the name, image, and identity of Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Honourable Minister of State for Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in an attempt to mislead the public.

We state categorically that Dr. Uzoka-Anite has no affiliation whatsoever with the aforementioned website or any content being circulated in her name through that channel. The materials therein are entirely unauthorised, deceptive, and intended to misinform the public.

This is a case of digital impersonation and fraud, and the matter has already been reported to the appropriate law enforcement and cybersecurity authorities for investigation and takedown action.

Members of the public are strongly advised to:

Disregard any information, videos, or links associated with this website;

Avoid clicking on or sharing the fraudulent content;

Report such activity immediately to digital platforms or relevant agencies.

The Honourable Minister remains committed to transparent public service and official communication through verifiable and authorised channels only.

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