FCT Football Association Board Member, Barrister Babatunde Akintade—popularly known as Bocknor—has praised the Kwali Football Council for its unwavering commitment to developing football at the grassroots level.

 

Akintade delivered the commendation over the weekend while attending the final match of the Kwali Football Council Cup in Kwali, where he emphasized that grassroots football remains the bedrock of sustainable growth for the sport in Nigeria.

 

He noted that beyond grooming future stars, football serves as a powerful tool for youth empowerment and social stability.

 

“The grassroots remain the fulcrum of football development in the country,” Akintade said. “Football does not only empower the youths for the future, it also helps take them off the streets, thereby reducing societal vices to the barest minimum.”

 

Bocknor, who also serves as the North Central Representative on the Nationwide League One (NLO) Board, used the occasion to call on government at all levels, as well as corporate organizations, to intensify their support for grassroots football. Such investment, he stressed, is essential for securing Nigeria’s future in the global game.

 

The 2025 edition of the Kwali FA Cup featured 13 teams from across the Area Council, culminating in an exciting finale where Dabi United emerged champions after defeating Sheda United 2–1. The competition once again showcased the abundance of raw talent within the local football ecosystem and reaffirmed the importance of continued investment in grassroots structures.