The Minifootball Association of Nigeria (MAN), Oyo State Chapter, has sought the support of Oyo State Government and football enthusiasts to harness the benefits of the game.
Mr David Adewoye, MAN Coordinator in Oyo State, made the plea during a news conference in Ibadan on Sunday.
TBI Africa.com said the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that MAN is duly registered in Nigeria and had been affiliated to World Minifootball Federation (WMF) since April 27, 2018.
NAN reports that MAN is one of the 144 countries duly accredited and affiliated to the WMF, whose membership cuts across the six continents of the world.
Adewoye said that support was needed from the incoming government in the state and other relevant stakeholders to develop minifootball towards harnessing its unifying educational, cultural and humanitarian values.
“ We want to use minifootball to promote integrity, ethics, fair play and anti-corruption. This, we also hope to use in engaging our youths and creating employment.
“Minifootball is not capital expensive. We want to promote sports and organize local competitions. We want to also promote the development of women minifootball,” he said.
According to Adewoye, efforts were ongoing to ensure that the state remained a major force in Nigeria as regards minifootball.
He said minifootball across the world was making significant progress and that Nigeria was moving with the trend.
“In 2018, the Nigerian Minifootball team made its first appearance at the Nations Cup in Tripoli, Libya from May 5 to 12.
“We won a match, drew one and lost one. Our team ended fifth and was the best team of the tournament.
“It is good to note that the team secured a ticket to the 2019 Minifootball World Cup scheduled to hold in Australia from October 1 to 11,’’ he said.
He said that Nigeria would host the second edition of the minifootball nations cup scheduled to hold in 2020.
Adewoye said that the association was planning to organise an inaugural match for incoming Seyi Makinde-led administration in the state to be played between some foreign players and Ibadan-based ex-Internationals.
He said that Mr Achraf Ben Salha, President, African Minifootball Confederation, had indicated readiness to attend the inaugural match to be held in the state.
“Our efforts is to ensure that Oyo State is not behind in the game. We want the incoming governor to be part of those to lead us to the world cup in Australia,’’ he said.
Adewoye said that WMF, a non-profit making organisation, was moving its headquarters from Czech Republic to Switzerland, saying efforts underway to affiliate it with FIFA.
NAN reports that six-aside football game has Mr Filip Ajuda as WMF President and Mr Andrew Elewere as MAN President.
Minifootball is played out-doors on a natural or artificial grass, with nine players (six in play), smaller goal post and a smaller field of 46mx26m.
The six-aside bears football game is played for 30 minutes in each half with a 10 minutes break.
The game has continued to attract the attention of the world since it held its first Minifootball World Cup in nine cities across the US in 2015.
