By Amaechi Agbo

The proprietor and Chairman, 36 Lions Football Club, Lagos, Alhaji Hajji Gafar has stated that it would be impossible to play 60 matches or more in 6 days to produce state Aiteo Cup winners, Beatchooceaports.com.ng can report.

The Lagos State based seasoned football administrator and investor stated this in the wake of circular sent to 37 state Football Associations in the country by the Nigeria Football Federation directing that all State FAs should produce their Aiteo Cup winners within 10 days.

Alhaji Gafar whose club played in the Nigeria National League, NNL and have produced talented players who have regularly moved abroad in pairs decried the impact of the novel Coronovirus to football in the country especially at the grassroots level.

The revered administrator advised the Lagos State FA as a matter of urgency and to get out of the improbable situation, to pick either Smart City FC or MFM FC to represent the state in the Aiteo Cup draw next week

“COVID-19 has done too much damages to our football and our daily lives. We simply don’t have any kind of system in place to tackle whatsoever calamity befalls us hence we rely only on divine interventions.

“Let’s hope the FA in Lagos will choose either Smart City FC or MFM FC as our representative for the AITEO Cup especially considering the form in which MFM is right now.

“Is it possible to play over 60 matches in 6 days!!!? Either Smart City FC or MFM FC is the answer right now. Any of these two clubs will give Lagos a good representation.

“Lagos State with 80 or more affiliated and FA Cup already paid clubs can never produce a single winner in 6 days.

“Lagos FA should have been proactive and expect this sudden demand from the NFF especially that we have a couple of our seniors representing us in Abuja.

“This is an opinion in form of advise from a concern stakeholder,” he said.

The NFF in a letter dated June 4, 2021 directed all State FAs to produce their Aiteo Cup representative not late than 14th June, 2021.

This directive have thrown most if not all the FAs in deep shock and confusion with urgent solution needed to be found before the deadline.

Nigeria’s oldest Challenge Cup also known as FA Cup but recently renamed Aiteo Cup for sponsorship purposes was unable to hold in 2020 due to the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic.

The winner of the 2021 Aiteo Cup will represent Nigeria at the CAF Confederation Cup.