Initiator of the yearly Spires Five-A-Side Naija Street Soccer Tournament, Dr Bankole Allibay, has promised that the grassroots football competition will be held under conditions conducive to good entertainment and good football.

Speaking while unveiling a list of activities leading to this year’s event in Lagos, yesterday, Allibay said part of the programme is a stakeholders’ conference and workshop before the qualifiers begin across the five divisions in Lagos in the second quarter of the year. 

Allibay said that this year’s tournament will embrace significant changes to improve the quality of competition, adding: “We are not only building on the successes of the last edition, but raising the standards in certain areas to improve the whole structure.

“Our first media briefing is aimed at informing the public of some of these changes and adjustments before the teams’ registration gets underway in March.”

Lagos Island-based club White Tigers are the defending champions of the tournament. The Coach Emmanuel Olom tutored side defeated Papa SA FC 4-0 in the final played at the Stables Sports Centre in Surulere to retain the crown they first won in 2024.

White Tigers pocketed the N5 million champions’ prize money, while Papa SA received N3 million for their efforts.