Japanese Ambassador Donates Football Kits To Grassroots Football Clubs In Lagos

The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Kazuyoshi Matsunaga yesterday donated some sets of Japan Professional Football League (J-League) jerseys, footballs and training materials to four grassroots football clubs in Lagos, Nigeria. The presentation was done at the Legacy pitch of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos during the final of the #Firedjiro Cup U-16.  The four clubs who benefited from the magnanimity of the Japanese Ambassador are Iganmu Tigers, Stars To Be FC, Gunners Link FC and Saidad FA. The Japanese ambassador who spoke with the media after the presentation said the gesture was part of his country’s commitment to promote grassroots sports development in Nigeria and strengthen therelationship between the two countries. Matsunaga stated that “Nigeria and Japan are very far away in distance but in Japan, the football brings the Nigerian very closer to the Japanese, because in the Japanese Professional Football League, we’ve seven Nigerians and also we’ve another nine players, who have one parent, who is a Nigerian, therefore, sports is a very important diplomatic tool to strengthen the relationship between Japan and Nigeria. “So, I've been promoting sports diplomacy since I was brought to Nigeria in May last year but due to the COVID-19, we have a very strong restriction at the moment, but today I’m bringing some donations of football jerseys and equipment from the Japanese professional League to Nigeria. So, I hope the jersey and equipment will lead to promote more people-to-people exchange between Japan and Nigeria in the future,” Matsunaga said. As I said, in Japan football is a very, very popular sport, therefore I'd like to have more Nigerians play an active role in Japan to contribute to strengthening the Japan and Nigeria relationship. And so, I expect, more Japanese fans might also come to Nigeria to watch the very interesting game of Nigerian football players,” he added. Ambassador Matsunaga, also revealed that #Firedjiro Cup U-16 final also served as a sent-forth match for Iganmu Tigers, who will be competing at an international youth soccer championship in Italy in October. The Iganmu Tigers’ trip to Italy is in partnership with the Japanese embassy. The final of #Firedjiro Cup U-16 was won by Iganmu Tigers, who defeated Stars To Be FC 3-0 in a clash which attracted a fair crowd at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.