By: Ade Adeleke
The Owo Local Government on Friday 17th December, 2021 defeated Akoko Northwest Local Government to lift this year’s inaugural edition of OBAS Cup Inter-Local Government Tournament.
Owo emerged victorious at the final match played at sports field of Aquinas College, Akure which was witnessed by the Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas and Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi Ogunlade represented by the Asiwaju Ndigbo of Akure, Chief Titus Umenweke and the new Ondo State Commissioner for Sports and Youths Development, Otunba Dele Ajayi and the Chairman of Local Organizing Committee of UNDER-17 OBA’S CUP, Mr Umar Lanre Jimoh.
In an Address, Lanre Umar commended contributions of stakeholders including the Chairman of AGFD, Chief Pius Ezekwere and the AGFD Grand Patron, W.I. Onyema and Asiwaju Ndigbo of Akure Kingdom, Chief Titus Umenweke.
Umar said, “AGFD, a non-governmental organization is duly registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)Laws of Nigeria, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Ondo Football Association. AGFD organizer’s of the maiden OBAS CUP edition is poised to discover, nurture and expose talented footballers aged 03-19 years with the maximum support of our Sponsors & European partners like Liberti & Partner Napoli, Italy, Smart ifutball Academy of Spain, FC Inter Turku Finland, and AEK FC Cyprus to mention a few.
“The selected Players during this year’s tournament shall be invited for nurture & exposure early next year. By God’s Grace in the 2022 edition shall commence early enough, the proforma shall be Youth Football Academies with registration of thirty-two(32) teams across Ondo State,” Umar said.
SUNSHINETRUTH gathered that 17 local governments participated in the competition that was organized by African Grassroots Football Development (AGFD) in collaboration with the Ondo State Football Association as endorsed by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and the State Council of Obas.
Speaking at the occasion, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade represented by the Asiwaju Ndigbo of Akure, Chief Titus Umenweke and Chief Gbenga Adeyeye, said the tournament would be used to foster unity and peaceful coexistence among local government areas in the state and empower youths to earn a living through professional football.
Chief Umenweke who described football as a unifying factor globally, noted that it would discourage youths from taking to criminal acts, adding that traditional institution would continue to support the competition.
During the final match, some pillars of sports development in Ondo state were recognized including, Chief Titus Umenweke who was honoured as the “Ondo State Sports Man of the Year”.
Presenting the award, the Ondo state new Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Otunba Dele Ajayi, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Finance and Administration, Mrs Serifat Musa, who applauded the tournament as one of the best ways to encourage football development from the grassroots, urged Chief Umenweke, to keep his good work going for sports growth.
Responding, the Asiwaju Ndigbo of Akure kingdom, Chief Umenweke expressed delight over the honour, promising that such award would spur him to do more in the development of sporting activities especially football in the state and beyond.
The Highlight of the final match is the presentation of giant Trophy to Owo Local Government that beat Akoko Northwest through penalty after the match had earlier ended in one-all draw.
The winning team was presented with a Cheque of N150,000 while the runner-up got N100,000.
