Oriyomi Hamzat U-19 Gold Cup to discover football talents across Oyo

A grassroots football tournament, the Dr. Oriyomi Hamzat U-19 Gold Cup, is set to bring together young football talents from the 33 local government areas of Oyo State to promote youth development and create opportunities for aspiring professional footballers.

The competition, sponsored by the Opeyemi Hamzat Sports Foundation in conjunction with the National Football Coaches Association (NFCA), Oyo State Chapter, Grassroots Development Unit (GDU), is designed to identify, develop and expose promising young players to opportunities in professional football.

The tournament will be organised across six zones: Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Ibarapa, Ibadan City and Ibadan Less-City, to ensure participation from communities across the state.

The opening match is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Ebedi Township Stadium, Iseyin, where Kajola Local Government Area will take on Itesiwaju Local Government Area.

As part of preparations for the competition, a talent identification seminar was held on September 11, 2026, with more than 60 coaches drawn from the 33 local government areas in attendance.

The coaches were trained by an international talent developer attached to a reputable Premier League club in the United Kingdom on methods of identifying, selecting and nurturing promising footballers.

The training is expected to equip grassroots coaches with the skills needed to recognise talented players and ensure that young footballers are not overlooked because of their locations or lack of exposure.

The organisers said the tournament would provide a competitive platform for players under the age of 19 to demonstrate their abilities while giving coaches and football scouts opportunities to identify talents capable of progressing to higher levels of the game.

The competition will also feature cash prizes for the best-performing teams.

The winners will receive ₦1 million, while the runners-up will get ₦600,000. The third-placed team will receive ₦400,000.

Individual awards will also be presented to outstanding participants. The Most Valuable Player and the highest goal scorer will each receive football boots valued at ₦60,000, while the best coach will receive ₦100,000.

The grand finale is expected to feature the presentation of the giant gold trophy, medals and individual awards, alongside entertainment and the participation of special guests and football stakeholders.

Beyond the prizes, the tournament is expected to promote unity among the participating local governments, strengthen grassroots football structures and provide young people with opportunities to pursue careers in the sport.

The organisers expressed optimism that the competition would become a major platform for grassroots football development in Oyo State, helping to identify and nurture the next generation of football stars.