The 2021 edition of the AmuwoGames commenced with a torch parade from the Amuwo-Odofin LG Secretariat in Festac Town and ended at the Amuwo Odofin Primary School Sports ground which was the venue of the opening ceremony.
Gracing the event were Peter Rufai, Jide Awobono, Kpeace, Indomix, Mojisola Macaulay, Valentine Buraimoh and many others.
Addressing attendees and athletes, Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, called on the athletes competing in the 2021 Amuwo Games to use the Lagos mini sports festival to showcase their talents.
Rufai commended the convener of the games, Seun Ayeni, and his team and sponsors for ensuring its continuity.
This year’s games kicked off with two football matches which saw defending champions Extension Dolphins face Festac Bulls while Mile 2 Hawks battled Festac Sharks.
Extension Dolphins beat Festac Bulls 5-4 on penalties and Mile 2 Hawks thrashed Festac Sharks 5-1.
The Convener of the games, Mr Seun Ayeni, said the aim of the event was to foster unity in the community, promote youth development and sportsmanship in every sphere of life.
“We’re going to see some form of youth development through sports and youth empowerment through the things sports can do for them,” he said.
Ayeni commended the sponsors and supporters of the event for their role in ensuring that the third edition held.
Lawmaker representing Amuwo Odofin Constituency 1, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs Mojisola Alli-Macaulay who is also sponsor of Festac Sharks Team, said the bi-annual games would promote grassroots sports development.
She added that it would also help discover new talents, skills, create job opportunities and employments.
She urged the youth to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the organisers and put all their energies in making the nation great again.
Mr Valentine Buraimoh, Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, said the mini sports festival had helped to keep the youths engaged.
Buraimoh pledged the council’s support in partnering with initiatives geared towards discovering new talents.
The Mini sports Festival will hold every weekend this month, between Nov. 6 and Nov. 28. 2021
About 600 athletes, representing eight teams, will compete in 17 games including, football, athletics, swimming, volleyball, cycling, basketball, tennis, chess, scrabble and five-aside.
Speaking to Press about this years edition, Seun Ayeni, organizer of the games said:
“I feel excited, it’s going to be bigger than the last two editions because this time around we’ve gotten hold of a whole lot of stuff, a lot of planning activity and what to put in place.”
On the challenges faced in preparation for the games, he revealed:
“Some of the challenges we faced are the volunteers. One culture that is dying in Nigeria is the fact that people no longer want to volunteer sincerely to any course.
“Yes, we understand there has to be money in form of compensation but that shouldn’t be the main reason to volunteer. People use to volunteer to courses but now we have youths who just want to while away time instead of getting into activities like this. And if you tell them to come on board the first question they will ask you is how much, instead of been part of something even though you won’t be paid.
“So that’s one of the thing that I’ve seen in the society that we need to focus on and see how to improve on and in this edition our manpower really dropped compared to last time.”
