A Christian religious leader, Prophet Mamukuyomi Isaiah Ilerioluwa has commended the efforts of the Akin Akinbobola led Ondo State Football Agency in encouraging and the youths in the state developed their football talent through the many programmes of the agency, which he claimed has motivated him to sponsor a national soccer competition, that would be staged in the state soon.

The Shepherd-in-charge of Celestial Church of Christ, Ilerioluwa Parish Ore Ondo State said grassroots football development should not be left to the government agency alone, and that was why he had consented to sponsor a grassroots soccer tournament tagged ‘Ilerioluwa National Under-16 Competition Ore, Ondo State.

The event according to A Square Sports International, the body that would organise the tourney has been scheduled for July, when the participants, mostly students would have been on the school’s long vacation.

The clergy however, urged parents to encourage their wards to embrace one sporting event or the other in combination to their academic activities, saying “most of our people are still not understand how lucrative sports have become globally, and our youths are yet to fully utilize this area of our endeavor.

“That is why I’m appreciating the efforts of the Ondo State Football Agency who had been helping our youths developed their soccer talents through their numerous programmes, and I ready to complement such efforts”, said Prophet Mamukuyomi.