Sports competition, vehicle to drive unity ― Kwara South stakeholders

Stakeholders in the Kwara South senatorial district of Kwara State have described community sports tournament as a vehicle to drive unity among the people of the area.

Speaking during the final match of the Asiwaju Ewe Movement football competition in Ajase Ipo in the Irepodun local government area of the state, the sponsor of the tournament and the Kwara South senatorial aspirant, Professor Wale Sulaiman, said that the game was organized to foster unity among the people for regional development and youth capacity building.

The football match was witnessed by prominent traditional rulers in Kwara South, led by the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, His Royal Highness Oba (Barrister) Ismail Bolaji Yahaya Muhammed Atoloye Alebiosu; the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti; the Oloro of Oro Kingdom, Oba Abdulrafiu Ajiboye Oyelaran and members of the Olupo traditional council.

The final match of the football competition held at the Ajase-Ipo Comprehensive High School football pitch, got the two teams involved; Ajulo FC of Irepodun and Unique Agara FC of Oyun Local Government, engaged in an intense 90 minutes battle.

After a defensive draw in the first half, the Ajulo FC captain, Ahmed Ishola, secured a victory goal for the team in the 12th minute of the second half with an awarded penalty kick. The match ended one nil in favour of Ajulo FC.

Interestingly, two players, namely Sani Akeem with jersey 24 of Ajulo FC and Mose Omotosho, jersey 6 of Unique Agara FC, were penciled down by the Kwara State Coaches Association, who had been monitoring the tournament to scout for excellent and promising footballers.

The winning team was awarded the sum of N150,000, the second position got an award of N100,000 while the third position won N50,000.

The highpoint of the event was the presentation of patriotic leadership awards to distinguished royal fathers and notable personalities in Kwara state.

Among the honoured were the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Barrister Ismail Bolaji Yahaya; Talban Gari of Ilorin, Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem; the Asiwaju Ewe of Ajase-Ipo, and President of RNZ Foundation, Professor Wale Sulaiman.

Others are: Chief Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, Ambassador Muhammed Abioye, Engineer Sunday Babalola, Hon. Raheem Adedoyin, and the Provost of College of Education, Oro, Professor Mukaila Aremu.

Also awarded were Hon. E. Oyedepo, Hon. Oladipo Kadiri Asunmoge; Barrister Rasak Alabi; Hon. Emmanuel Ajewolede; Alhaji AbdulFatai Akorede; Hon. Titilope Akogun; Barrister Teju Adeyemi; Hon. Jesufemi Adeyemi; Hon. Ganiyu Zubair; Hon. William Adeleye, and Pastor Segun Buoye, among others.

The football match was witnessed by sports enthusiasts, professional footballers, political juggernauts, representatives of Omo Ibile Igbomina, Igbomina Youth Assembly Executives, Ajase-Ipo Descendent Union Executives, ODU Representatives, and massive fans.

The competition also enjoyed impressive media coverage with live commentary by the sports veteran, Mr. Bayour Issa.