After some postponements, all is now set for the maiden edition of the Osun State MiniFootball Association Championship (OSSMA) 2023.
The Minifootball Championship is being organised by the Osun State Minifootball Association to create a youth-centric, sustainable minifootball culture in a genuine effort to revive the passionate Nigerian sporting system.
Minifootball is a joint term for several small-sided variations of football mainly played in 5/6/7 a-side format that could be played on natural pitches and artificial turfs.
The major differences between minifootball and the conventional football are the number of players at a time; duration of time, size of the pitch, goal posts, etc and relaxation of some other rules guiding football participation; for instance, there is no offside rule in minifootball.
Minifootball has become a professional game being played in many countries across Europe, Asia and Africa.
The Championship tagged OSSMA CHAMPIONSHIP 2023, is slated for 9th through 24th of November, 2023.
The competition is expected to hold in the following five zones in the State: Ede, Ikirun, Ile-Ife, Ilesa and Osogbo with two finalists emerging from each zone to proceed to the State Finals.
Ilesa East Local Government is the host for this year’s competition, hence the State Finals is billed for Ilesa Grammar School Sports Arena, Ilesa.
Osun State Minifootball Association Chairman, Mr Femi Kazeem in the company of his board members met with the Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Sports and Special Needs, Prince Kola Adewusi and other stakeholders over the Championship, stating that the competition was tactically put together to meet the aspirations of Government for the Sports and Youth development of Osun State indigenes.
The state’s minifootball programme is an integral part of Nigeria Minifootball Association (NMA) programmes based on integrating talents into the State Minifootball League which will be the bedrock of the National Championships, Leagues and other competitions.
According to Mr Femi Kazeem, registration for the championship commenced on the 1st of October, 2023, while submission of forms will close by the 6th of November, 2023.
Kazeem reiterated the preparations of all stakeholders on the issue of security in order to ensure a very competitive, fun-filled and hitch-free competition.
