Tella U-17 Championship starts May 7

By Saliu Gbadamosi - 18.03.2008

THE Nigeria Football Coaches Associa tion, Oyo State chapter, the organiser of Tella Under-17 Memorial Football Championship has picked May 7 for the commencement of the championship.

The championship, aimed at immortalising the late Golden Eaglets coach to the Korea 2007 World U-17 Championship, Elder Theophilus Adeyemi Tella, 33 local government councils in Oyo State.

Speaking at the draw for the championship held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, last week, chairman of the organising committee, Coach Niyi Akande said matches would be decided on a knock-out basis, adding that the 11 local councils in Ibadan would play their matches at the Olubadan Stadium, Ibadan, the eight teams from Oke-Ogun zone would play at the Saki Mini Stadium, while the Durbar Stadium in Oyo would be the venue for teams from Oyo zone.

According to him, teams from Ogbomoso zone will be playing inside Ogbomoso Township Stadium, while the Eleruwa Township Stadium, Eruwa, will host matches in Ibarapa zone.

Akande, however, urged participating teams to make their intention known to the organising committee by paying the registration fee on or before March 26, “so as to have a smooth and hitch-free tournament”.