AMAPRO19: Defending Champions, Pro Leaguers Get Easy Draw As AMAPRO Championship Kicks Off on Monday

The 2019 AmaPro Football Championship commences on Monday in Ilorin with Kwara Football Academy hosting Nationwide league All Stars in the opening game.

The colourful draws ceremony held in Ilorin today saw the defending champions, Pro leaguers (Professional players who are out of contract) getting the easiest opponents in Group C alongside three debutants, Success TIYU International FA, Kings Sport Club Youth team, Jazzy Stars FA or EGA Obi FA.

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) AllStars who have won the competition a couple of times are placed in a dicey group which features LA Planet Sport Academia, Ultimate Football Academy and Team360 Youth team.

While Nigeria National League (NNL) Allstars are in a difficult group which comprises of notable academies in Nigeria, Kwara Football Academy, KFA, Olansile Academy from Osogbo and the Nationwide League (NLO) Allstars.

The football fiesta which has been designed to bridge the gap between professional footballers and non professionals has got twelve teams (which may increase) participating in the tournament.

According to the organisers, Phreestyle Sports, arrangements have been put in place to have a colourful championship which would feature other important programs aside the football games.

The finals will be decided on 28 of July at the Main Bowl of the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin.

Players Need To Plan For Their Future – PhreeStyle Sports CEO Shogo Shodunnke

With footballers generally having short professional careers, their futures’ are often not accounted for, despite earning good money during their playing days.

While player wages differ, some players are on seven figure annual salary packages.

Many players live below the poverty line after retiring from the game. This has led to the PhreeStyle Sports CEO, Shogo Shodunnke, urging players to invest in their futures.

The resource expert said that he does not mind players driving expensive cars, however they have to think about life for after their playing days.

“I wouldn’t want to see the players driving fancy cars now and living in poverty after their playing days are over,” he said.

“I urge all the players to think about the future and invest their money. We don’t want to see our heroes suffer in the future,” Shogo Shodunnke explained.

PhreeStyle Sports, a fast growing firm recently organized seminars for Nigerian league clubs like Enyimba, Nasarawa United, Lobi Stars, Giwa FC, Remo Stars, Crown FC and Imperial Academy.