High-flying Sheu Close were at their clinical best on Saturday when they beat Amusa Street 2-0 to win the Season Two of the First Bank Lagos Street Soccer Stars.

The championship, which started with 64 teams, was held over 14 days, with the third-place game heralding the final match on Saturday at Oloyede Street, Oshodi.

Earlier in the third place match, Oremeji Street walloped Salawu Street 6 – 1.

The championship also recorded some high-scoring games, with the biggest being the 7-1 defeat of Oluwani Street by Babayanju Street, to advance to the quarterfinals.

The tournament, with the theme,  ‘Oshodi Hidden Talents’, featured 640 players drawn from communities across Lagos State.

With the financial support of First Bank under its First@Sports initiative promoting youth development, healthy living and community engagement, the organisers used the event to scout for fresh talents and also give the youths of the state the opportunity to earn some money.

Speaking on the event, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Grassroots Sports Development, Adebanji Atewogboye, said: “We want to keep the youths busy during this long holiday. For the next two weeks, we are keeping them together through football.”

Atewogboye said the tournament was designed to keep young people away from crime, social vices and drug abuse.

He added that the competition was creating pathways for talented players to secure opportunities with football academies and professional clubs.

Earlier, Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, FirstBank, Olayinka Ijabiyi, said that his organisation keyed into the competition because of its belief in “people, community, and in building the future.”

He said: “Grassroots football is where talent starts, where discipline is built, where dreams take shape and with the FirstBank Lagos Soccer Stars competition, we are putting Lagos talent in the spotlight, providing a platform for talents to develop and achieve their dreams.

“Our sponsorship of the competition is hinged on First@Sports, a platform on which we provide support for the entire sports ecosystem.”

For winning the competition, Sheu Close was rewarded with the N1 million star prize, while Amusa Street got N750, 000 for finishing second, with third-placed Oremeji Street getting N500, 000 from the N3.5 million prize pool.

Winners of the Golden Boot, Most Valuable Player, Young Player, Best Street Team, Fair Play Team, Community Spirit and Goal of the Tournament awards also got N100,000 each.

The organisers also revealed that star performers in every match received N10,000 and recognition as part of efforts to encourage excellence.

Among the dignitaries at the event on the final day were Senior Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Grassroots Sports Development, Adebanji Adeoye Atewogboye, Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, top officials of the 57 Local Councils in Lagos and officials of First Bank.