A pre-season football tournament tagged Eko International Cup (EIC) will take a centre stage between July 6th and 13th at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
SKI-Hi Entertainment in collaboration with the Lagos State Government is staging the competition expected to feature a total of eight teams.
In this tournament, top professional football teams from within and outside Nigeria are coming together to compete among themselves for a period of 10 days in an exciting carnival atmosphere.
This year, the competing teams are spread across five countries including Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, South Africa and Sierra Leone.
According to the Executive Director, Publicity and Strategy for the Local Organizing Committee of the EIC, Onome Obruthe, arrangements for the tournament are in top gear.
He said: “The aim of the tournament is to give participating clubs a chance to get back into shape after their holidays at the end of each season. It is also a chance to test new players they signed or plan to sign for the new season as well as work on tactics for the new season.
“For the fans, it is an opportunity to return to the stadium to watch players they love and get a taste of what their various teams have to offer for the new season.”
Reigning NPFL Champions, Remo Stars, Ikorodu United, Shooting Stars and Enyimba of Aba are the Nigerian team invited to feature in the competition.
The four teams expected to feature from other parts of the continent are FC Kallon of Sierra Leone, Accra Hearts of Oak, Ghana, SuperSports United FC of South Africa and FC Dadje of Republic of Benin.
Obruthe added that the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Sports Commission and Lagos Football Association has been of tremendous assistance to the organizing team
“We are so happy with the 100 percent co-operation and acceptance given to the organizing team. FA Chairman, Haji Gafar Liameed, has given us assurance that we are going to enjoy a smooth run-in into the tournament,” Obruthe stressed.