An online gaming firm, Pasabet, celebrated International Youth Day with a celebrity football clash that brought together celebrities, football lovers and young people for a tournament centred on sports, community and youth engagement.

Beyond the excitement on the pitch, the event reflected Pasabet’s belief that young people have an important role to play in nation-building.

The organisers said they created spaces that encourage participation, teamwork, creativity and positive social interaction, with the aim of inspiring more young Nigerians to get involved, use their voices and contribute meaningfully to the future of the country.

Four teams featured in the tournament: Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and All Stars, with the All Stars team bringing together supporters of clubs including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and others.

The event, which held on Sunday, also featured notable personalities, including Small Doctor, Prince Nelson, Real Sophie, Sandialo, Uti Nwachukwu, Yinka, GroovyMono, Dotun and Faith Adewale, among others.

The competition delivered plenty of football, rivalry and entertainment. Chelsea defeated Arsenal to secure their place in the final, while Manchester United overcame All Stars to set up a Chelsea versus Manchester United showdown.

In the final, Chelsea produced a commanding performance, defeating Manchester United 3-0 to emerge champions of the Pasabet Celebrity Football Match.

One of the standout performers of the tournament was Yinka, whose impressive performances helped drive Chelsea to victory and earned him the award for Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

The event was more than a football tournament. It was a celebration of youth, community, sportsmanship and the power of young people to come together and contribute positively to society.

Speaking at the event, the Director of Pasabet, Emeka Akujobi, said the brand was committed to grassroots football mobilisation as it sought to establish itself in the sports betting and gaming market.

“Pasabet is big on grassroots football mobilisation, we are new to the market as a sports betting and gaming brand,” Akujobi said.

“As much as possible, we want to connect to the grassroots and the community of football lovers to be able to put the right sports and gaming platforms out there. We are doing all these also to motivate the youths. We partnered with celebrities and everyone here to amplify the brand and also show it is one for all, be you a celebrity or a nine-to-five worker. And we are certainly going to sell a stadium out next,” he said.

Also speaking, singer Small Doctor said his participation in the event was driven by his desire to connect with his fans.

“I decided to be a part of this event because it bridges the gap between me and the fans. That is always something I will want to be a part of, and I have been having a great experience,” he said.

The Player of The Tournament, Yinka Odunlami, brother to musician Fola, said his award was a product of teamwork.

“This was a good achievement, and I had a good team that helped me to win the award. This was a fun event, and I am glad I was able to make an impact with my teammates as well,” Odunlami said.