Radio One Children’s Day Sports fiesta kicks off May 20

A total of 32 male teams from junior secondary schools in Lagos, including academies, will feature in the second edition of the Radio One Sports Fiesta slated to hold from May 20 at the National Broadcast Academy. The event will feature a five-aside football competition and athletics events of 100m and 4×100 metres relay for children under-15.

This year’s edition will also include eight female football teams as preliminary matches begin on the opening day, while the grand finale will hold at at the Campos Mini Stadium on May 24.

Speaking at the occasion, the General Manager, Radio One, Mrs. Funke Treasure-Durodola, said the essence of the competition was to create a paradigm shift in the concept of celebrating Children’s Day.

“At Radio One 103.5FM, we want to celebrate our children in a much more relevant and impactful way by encouraging them in sporting activities and using sports to educate, inform and entertain them. If indeed our children are the future leaders, their talents must be harnessed early enough.

“We are not against Children’s Day parties, but we firmly believe that sports is an avenue for building character, self-development, teamwork and sportsmanship. Beyond rhetoric, our decision to use sports as a vehicle for celebrating our children should be obvious,” she said.

According to the Director, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Lagos Operation, Prince Adeyinka Amosun, the idea behind the competition was devoting so much into the development of sports among the children.

“The idea is trying to build from the foundation so that one will not be accused of reaping from where others have sown. We want to develop talents so that Nigeria can say we too have contributed in our own little way to the development of sports in the country,” he stated.

Dignitaries at the event to lend their supports include former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode, among others.