By Rasaq Oboirien
NEYMAR Jr's FIVE a signature tournament of FC Barcelona of Spain Brazilian star will kick off in Nigeria in March, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.
The five-a-side 10minutes street football championship which will make its debut in Africa's most populous football loving nation will be held in the commercial city of Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and oil-rich city of Port-Harcourt.
This year's edition which is been partnered by energy drink giants, Red Bull, Snickers and Nigeria Premier League (NPL) side Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC of Ilorin is open to teams of five(5) to seven(7) players aged 16-25.
Two substitution are to be made by team as there's no gender limitations, meaning both male and female players can make up a team.
All players of both teams must play with a foot wear.
For the first time, two over-aged players will be allowed on each team.
The tournament rule disallows a goalkeeper, as no player can block the goal with his or her hands nor step inside the goal area.
The interesting part of the tournament, a team loses a player when the other team scores, which makes it fast, technical, tactical and unique in the world of football.
Meanwhile, in the 2017 edition in Nigeria will be played in a format with group stages and afterwards a knockout system.
Qualification rounds will be held across nine(9) locations in the country, with two days of group stage qualifications before a final knock-out round for the top scoring teams.
Each team will get to play at least twice in the group stages.
There will be regional qualifiers in 53 countries in six (6) continents with the winners go through to their national final.
The Nigerian champions will in July, get an all-expenses paid trip to the world final at Neymar Jr at Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr outside Sao Paolo Brazil.
They will also outplay 50 other country for a chance to meet Neymar Jr inside the walls of the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.
Top scorer from the Nigerian edition will also get a chance to have trials with ABS FC of Ilorin.
'Anjos da Bola'-Angels of the Ball-aged 20-22 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil are the current champions.
With free registration, demand is high, and total teams allowed into the tournament is limited. Meaning teams must register online via www.neymarjrsfive.com/en/NG to guarantee their spot or show up on day 1 at 9am local time to register in person at their selected qualification location.
