The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, and White Collar Football League on Thursday signed an agreement aimed at creating a positive impact in society, The PUNCH reports.
The agreement was signed by Dave Jones, President, White Collar Football Management, Chairman of Lagos SWAN, Debo Oshundun and Oba Moroof Amodu-Tijani Oluwa, the Olu of Iwa and Apapa Kingdom at a ceremony held at the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government secretariat in Ajegunle, Lagos.
Following the deal, the White Collar Football League is expected to start in the last part of the year with 32 teams, male and female, at the New Maracana Stadium in Ajegunle, Lagos.
According to Jones, the partnership signifies a shared commitment enabled by using the influence of sports for the improvement of the society.
“The birth of the WCFL was inspired by a vision to combine our love for football with a desire to create a positive difference in our community,” he said.
“Our mission at WCFL is threefold: to promote sportsmanship and encourage unity amongst stakeholders, to advocate for health and wellness, and most importantly, to give back to the community. Through fundraising efforts and strategic partnerships, we aim to build a brighter future for the underprivileged in our society.”
Lagos SWAN boss Oshundun stated, “As sportswriters, we understand the immense potential of sports as a multi-billion-dollar industry. It serves as a platform for sustainable development, offers opportunities to alleviate poverty, and strengthens the economy. We firmly believe that the changes we aspire to see in our communities must start with us. Hence, we are proud to align ourselves with the WCFL to lead positive changes in our society.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Fatai Ayoola, said, “We as a people appreciate the sports development and nurturing of budding sports talents in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government and today’s (Thursday) signing of memorandum and partnership between Lagos SWAN and WCFL will set another reference of excellence in development of creative initiatives for development in Lagos State and indeed in Nigeria.”
Oba Amodu-Tijani used the opportunity to welcome more stakeholders into the development of sports in society.
“I also take this opportunity to welcome anyone passionate about football, regardless of their experience level, who may want to collaborate with us to achieve all the goals set for this initiative. Whether you are an experienced player, a beginner, a supporter, a volunteer or a potential sponsor or ex-international, I invite you to join us. Together, we can work to make our communities better and foster prosperity for our people.”
