Excitement is building up ahead of Lagos Pre-Season Tournament as BugaWin, a betting company, has assured fans of good football and plenty of gifts.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 16-team tournament will hold from Sept. 18 to 22 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos Island, with eight matches scheduled for each day during the preliminary round.
The pre season tournament is being organised by the Fouad Oki led Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) in partnership with BugaBet.
The Chief Executive Officer, BugaWin, Otunba Charles Farinmoyo, during a courtesy call on LSFA boss on Tuesday, expressed the brand’s commitment to enhance grassroots development through the partnership with LSFA.
He said BugaWin would give out exciting prizes to fans and supporters throughout the tournament, and thanked LSFA for creating the platform for the company to carry out its corporate social responsibility.
Farinmoyo added, “we see this as an opportunity and whatever we have, we will do and that’s why we are partnering with the tournament.
“We are just a new company, we respect our fathers in the sports betting business.
“Our expenses are enormous, but I want to give you BugaWin’s commitment that we are in with you all through this competition.
“Apart from branding, from the first moment, we will be in the stadium as early as 5.00 a.m.
“You will meet our team there and we will do raffles for those early birds who will be at the venue before 7 a.m to win fantastic prizes,” he said.
Farinmoyo added that everyday there would be raffle draws. “We are planning to give motorcycles, fans, electric kettles, pressing irons and so on.
“We also give daily prizes after the matches; it could tickets to go on vacation or stay in top hotels in Lagos.”
The vice-chairman of the LSFA, Liameed Gafar, applauded BugaWin for partnering with the board in staging the tournament at short notice, stating that the BugaWin had demonstrated huge passion for the beautiful game.
“During the five days of the tournament, they will be bringing different prizes into the stadium; ranging from pressing iron, standing fans and different gifts.
“There will be raffle draws and whatever you win, you take it home. They will give us wallets, much like a ticket that you can cash out and you can ‘buga.’
“They will be supporting the technical staff during the tournament and I believe through this support, we will give them great mileage and I’m sure they will be everywhere very soon.
“They believe in us because they believe that football should not bring violence,” Gafar said.
NAN reports that three Nigeria National League (NNL) and 13 Nationwide League One (NLO) clubs are participating in the tournament.
The clubs were divided into four groups of four teams each for the preliminary round.
First Bank FC, Real Sapphire, Lekki United and Broad City were drawn in group A, while Tradesafe Sport FC, A.S Racine, Emmydinho FC and BYT FC are in group B.
Smart City FC, Okaka FC, TCCG FC and Dannaz FC are in group C, while Ikorodu City are pitched in group C alongside Spartans FC, Magic Stars and Buruj FC.
A total of 32 matches will be played during the tournament with First Bank FC and Real Sapphire getting the proceedings under way on Monday, Sept. 18.
The Lagos Pre-Season Tournament will end on Friday, Sept. 22.
