Arsenal team arrive for Lagos Beach Soccer tournament

Arsenal Beach
Soccer Team has
arrived in Lagos
for the annual
beach soccer
t o u r n a m e n t
organised by
Kinetic Sports.
Now in its
seventh edition,
the Copa Lagos has
gotten a big boost
having entered
into an official
partnership with
the Lagos State
Government.
This is the first
time the Arsenal
Beach Soccer team
will be coming to
Africa and indeed
Nigeria.
According to
Managing Director
of Kinetics
Sports, Samson
A d a m u ,
getting the
‘Gunners’ to
come was
one of the
innovations
achieved
t h rough
the state
g o v ernme n t ’ s

involvement.
Mr. Adamu was
full of praises to
the state governor,
A k i n w u m i
Ambode, for
supporting the
event.
“I’m happy Lagos
State is partnering
with us because
COPA Lagos is
about sports and
entertainment,”
Mr. Adamu said.
“This is the
seventh year of the
event and we have
done something
special by forming
the Gidi Sharks,
a Lagos team
of young beach
soccer players
drawn from all
over the state.
“Also for the
first time, with
the help of Lagos
State Government,
the Arsenal beach
soccer team will be
coming to COPA
Lagos. This will be
their first time in
Africa. Lagos State
already helped
raise the profile
of beach soccer
as with their
assistance, the
last Beach Soccer

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Africa Cup of
Nations was the
best ever, in terms
of standard and
attendance.”
On his part, the
Commissioner
for Information
and Strategy
in Lagos State,
Steve Ayorinde,
said Governor
Ambode was
supporting sports
d e l i b e r a t e l y
as part of the
state’s drive to
use tourism,
ente r tainment
and sport to
keep the state as
the best in the
country.
“We are proud
that the state is
maintaining its
excellence in all
areas, especially
in sports,
tourism and
entertainment.
Lagos is fully
committed to
Copa Lagos
competition as
part of activities
for the 2017 runin.
“There are
several other
p r o g r a m m e s
to make the
people of Lagos
happy and Copa
Lagos is key
in the calendar
of the state in
December,” he
said.
Special Adviser
to Governor
Ambode on
Sports, Deji
Tinubu, assured
that the Governor
will attend the
tournament.
“ V a r i o u s
activities which
range from
soccer, music and
ente r tainment
have been
lined up by the
organisers,” Mr.
Tinubu stated.
Eight teams
will be taking
part in this
seventh edition.
They include
Nigeria, Morocco,
Lebanon and
Spain. Others are
Arsenal, Pepsi
Academy, Gidi
Sharks and the
Kebbi team.
The tournament
begins today,
December 8 to
10 at the Eko
Atlantic City,
Lagos Nigeria.

Source: Nigeria Pilot