A new field sport, Goldas (Golden Age Soccer), was officially introduced through exhibition matches featuring four teams at the Ejigbo Mini Stadium on Ikotun Road in Lagos during the weekend.
It was all fun, excitement, and entertainment galore as the new type of therapeutic football was introduced in Nigeria.
The participating teams consist of 19 players each and compete for a total of 99 minutes, divided into three 33-minute halves. Unlike traditional football, this game is played on an oval pitch, resembling the Earth.
Dr. Ngiejung Nabil, the International President, aims to convert people’s passion for football into solutions for economic challenges and youth unemployment. Nigeria was chosen for its hardworking youth and status as a business hub.
Key features include six match reserves, a rule mandating equal participation, and jerseys labeled with letters instead of numbers. The traditional card system has been replaced with white, Earth Brown, and Black Cards for discipline, and a Golden Card for good behavior. Scoring also includes tactical skills, not just goals.
The game is being played in Cameroon, South Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the UK.
Nabil highlighted the growing disconnect between graduates and job opportunities, emphasizing the goal to assist passionate individuals rather than seeking profit.
Taiwo Tony Fafowora, Vice President of the sport in Nigeria, noted that the game could create around 377,500 jobs for youth in the next two to three years, encouraging them to embrace this opportunity.
