BY RAYMOND NWADUBA
The Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), State League Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Wale Joseph has warned sternly teams participating in the 2024/2025 season to desist from boycotting matches as any team that misses a game will be relegated automatically.
The State League boss made this declaration during the draws cum unveiling for the new season held on Wednesday at the LSFA Ogunlana Drive office in Lagos.
According to Joseph, the league body will not condone any such unprofessional conduct from teams who fail to show up for their match or matches simply because they believe they have lost out and may not stand a chance.
“Teams that miss matches will not be tolerated for any reason.
“Any side that chooses to miss a game for flimsy reasons will be thrown out and relegated automatically.
“Teams need to honour all their matches even if they had lost all previous games.
“We need to play by the rules and shun acts capable of bringing the league to disrepute”, he noted.
However, the LSFA chairman, Hajj Liameed Gafar extolled and celebrated the league for producing top talents such as Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Kayode Bankole and Tolu Arokodare who now all play for the Nigeria national team, Super Eagles.
“We have a gold mine in our hands but we don’t realize it.
“About six players or more in the current Super Eagles squad featured in this league at one time or the other.
“Osimhen with Ultimate Strikers FC, Ojota, Ndidi played for Nath Boys while Lookman starred for Sporting Football Academy under coach Baba Adeshina, Boniface was with Royal Real Sapphire, Bankole was in the colours of 36 Lion while Arokodare played for Box 2 Box.
“So this league has played a very key role in Nigeria football development dating back to many years”, Gafar stressed.
The league kicks off March 19 with 14 teams in the male category while 10 teams battle it out in the female category.
Below is the full fixtures:
LAGOS LEAGUE FEMALE
ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
GROUP A
A1…. VICTORIOUS ANGEL
A2… CAT LADIES
A3… GHETTO TIGERS…
A4.. FC PHOENIX…
A5… GREAT STARS AMAZON…
MAINLAND CONFERENCE
GROUP B
B1… UNIZEE SHELLA…
B2… EDUFOOT
B3… UNIFICATION TALENTS..
B4… VICTORY QUEEN
B5… AISHA YUSUF FA
LAGOS STATE LEAGUE
MALE
GROUP A….
ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
A1… DIADEM STALLION
A2..LEKKI JUNIOR STRIKERS
A3…CHEKAS UNITED
A4…SC HERITAGE
A5…BUCKNOR FC
A6…TEAM 360 FC
A7.. YOUNG STRIKERS
GROUP B….
MAINLAND CONFERENCE
B1… UTMOST FC
B2…IBEJU LEKKI UNITED
B3… ARUBINJAGA FC
B4… UNIZEE FC
B5… DN 10
B6… SGH SA
B7… IGHALO FA
