By Saheed Afolabi
The Oshodi, Isolo and Ejigbo League (OIEL) will commence on July 24, the organisers have informed.
The organisers of the league, Oshodi-Isolo Coaches Council, said it is put together to create competitive atmosphere for clubs based in Oshodi, Isolo and Ejigbo communities.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, coach Rasheed Suleiman, noted that through the league in the past, many grassroots players have secured professional contract in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and clubs around the world.
He said the league could not be organised in the last two years due to some factors including the outbreak of Covid-19.
He said the OIEL will serve as an exposure and an avenue for the players at the grassroots to experience playing the home and away league formats in a competitive league.
“I’m very happy that the league is coming back after a two-year break. The players we have today are highly talented and very bright. The joy of the competition is that players who played in the past editions of the OIEL are now established players in professional clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and clubs around the world. We have so much youngsters coming up through the grassroots and the OIEL will serve as an avenue for them to play competitive matches in a competitive atmosphere.
“The OIEL will expose the players. It will serve as a rigorous avenue for the players to experience playing home and away in a competitive league which is different from friendly matches, knowing fully well that the results clubs get in each game they play in the league determine the position of the club on the league table. It’s an advantage for the players to also get experience of playing in a league.
“The league will be in an abridge format, 12 teams divided into two groups of 6 each and the top two teams in each group will go for a playoff, where the winner will emerge,” he explained.
