From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi Beach Soccer Club has confirmed that it could not make it to the World Winner’s Cup in Alghero, Italy over delayed visas by Italy’s Embassy.
In a statement issued by NBSL Media, Oluwaseun Oyedeji, the club explained that it couldn’t make it to the tournament after several attempts to secure visas failed.
He said: “Kebbi Beach Soccer Club (KBSC) regrets to announce that the team will not be participating in the 2024 Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) organized “World Winners Cup” in Alghero, Italy, this month.
“This decision comes after the non-issuance of VISAS to the team by the Italian Embassy, citing a late application despite several communications since August.
“Although we are disappointed to miss out on the opportunity to feature in the World Cup for beach soccer clubs for the third time, we are committed to representing Nigeria and Africa at global events.
“We now shift focus on preparation for the 2024/2025 Kebbi Beach Soccer League (KBSL) and 2025 Nigeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) with the hope of retaining the league title and extending our haul to four in five seasons.
“We would like to thank our fans, supporters, and stakeholders for their understanding and continued support during this time. We look forward to a greater future and tournaments ahead”, he said.