Nigeria National League (NNL) side Vandrezzer FC has expressed disappointment as selection process ensured that they won’t be participating in the 2020/21 Aiteo Cup competition following the cancellation of the state play-offs by the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) and the Akwa Ibom Football Association (AKFA).
According to a memo to all Lagos teams two weeks ago, Lagos State Football Association, (LSFA) based their decision on inability to organise the play-offs with very short notice given by the Nigeria Football Federation, the club’s official website reveals.
“With regards to the directive by the NFF that each FA produces by the 14th of June, a sole representative of the state in the Aiteo cup, the congress intensively deliberated extensively and considered various options giving consideration to the short time frame and the large number of registered clubs” the statement reads.
“The congress noted that Covid-19 pandemic negatively affected the 2019/2020 FA/Aiteo cup football for which over Eighty-Five (85) clubs registered and also noted that with the number of clubs registered, there was no way Lagos State could meet the June 14th NFF deadline by playing the relevant matches.”
“Consequent to the above, the general congress resolved as follows: The defending champions of the last played State FA/Aiteo Cup in the men and women categories, Smartcity Fc, Lagos and FC Robo Queens, Lagos respectively be presented to the NFF to play on the platform of Lagos State in the 2021 Aiteo Cup.”
Meanwhile, VFC had earlier registered to play in the competition under the Akwa Ibom State FA while based in the South South state last season, and were invited to be part of the draws for the competition.
The VFC contingent were on their way to Uyo on the day of the draws, only to get a call that the draws were scrapped with Akwa United nominated as respresentatives.
This left the Lions no chance to feature in neither Lagos nor Uyo.
“While we feel disappointed at the turn of events, we anxiously look forward to the featuring in the competition next season,” the club stated via it’s official website.
