Saraki institutes U-13 Rashidi Yekini soccer competition

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has promised sponsorship of an annual soccer tournament among U-13 boys at Oyun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State, especially Ira, the country home of the late soccer legend, Rashidi Yekini.

Speaking during a visit to the mother of the fallen soccer star in Ijagbo, Oyun LGA of the state on Friday, Senator Saraki also canvassed an institution for Nigeria, where her sports’ heroes and heroines would be honoured before their demise “based on their contributions to the growth of Nigeria on their chosen careers.”

He said that a trophy had already been donated for the U-13 Rashidi Yekini soccer competition, adding that football kits were doled out to the boys and the officials of the competition which may coincide with the date of death of the former football star.

Represented by the General Manager of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC, Ilorin, Mr Alloy Chukwuemeka, he also presented a tricycle to the younger brother of the 1993 African Footballer of the Year, Hakeem Yekini, to be used for commercial purposes.

Chukwuemeka said renovation of the private mosque, shop and apartments of Yekini’s mum, (Alhaja Sikirat Yekini) had been carried out, adding that undisclosed amount of money was also presented to the aged woman to boost her petty trading.

The mother of the foremost Nigeria striker expressed happiness with the way the good deeds of her late son were rewarded by the Senate president, just as she prayed for the U-13 players of ABS, with a prophesy that “many Rashidi Yekinis would rise among them”.