Spires 5-Aside Tourney: Papa SA Are The New King Of EPE
The grand-finale of the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer divisional tournament in Epe will linger in the minds of football fans for a while. The showdown between eventual winners Papa SA and Net Breakers presented a nine goals thriller to hundreds of ecstatic spectators at the STS Pitch in Bogije along the Lekki-Epe Express Road on Saturday.
Both teams put forth an offensive approach as Kehinde Usman, Gbenro, and Elijah Adesanya who scored a brace gave a good accout of themselves in the colors of Net Breakers FC. However, Anifowoshe, and Al Ameen both got a brace before a brilliant strike by Toheeb secured the title for Papa SA who also recieved a prize money of N500,000 as champions. Net Breakers smiled home with the sum of N300,000 as runner-up.
Olaodus FC defeated Peckins football club 2-1 on penalty shootout in the losers final. The coach Oluwaseyi Agbaje tutored side got a consolation prize of N100,000. Elijah Adesanya of Net Breakers FC received N50,000 as the tournament top scorer with 7 goals, while a total of 54 goals were recorded across eight matches.
All three teams from 1st to third will represent EPE division in the state championship latter in the year.
The initiator of the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer Tournament Dr. Bankole Allibay, said they will continue to prioritize the welfare of the participating teams as well as uphold the highest professional standards in all areas of the competition.
In his words: ” We pride ourselves as the most organized 5-Aside football tourney in the country as at today and we hope to continue to build on the successes recorded ahead of the state championship”.
Bankole further called on brands and corporate organisations to partner with Spires Media in raising the stakes of the street soccer tourney.
” This is the only tournament were teams are paid to compete in the qualifiers, and the prize money for state championship is also the highest of any of such tournaments in the continent as at today”.
” I wish to call on individuals, the corporate world, as well as the government to support this great initiative because it has the capacity to propel their brands aside supporting the advancement of young people through sports “. Allibay added.
Sixteen teams across the five divisions in Lagos will compete in the 2025 Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer Tournament. The winner of the state championship will receive a prize money of N10m among other benefits.
