Emmanuel Kehinde,Ilorin
The final match and grand finale of the Kwara South grassroots football competition tagged: Asiwaju Ewe Movement Football Competition, organized by Ojoor Sport and fully sponsored by the Asiwaju Ewe of Ajase-Ipo Kingdom, Professor Wale Sulaiman, was held on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at the Ajase-Ipo Comprehensive High School football pitch.
The final match got the two teams, Ajulo FC of Irepodun and Unique Agara FC of Oyun Local Government (of Kwara State), engaged in an intense ninety 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 twelfth minute of the second half with an awarded penalty kick. The match ended 1 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 have been closely monitoring the tournament to scout for excellent and promising footballers.
The football match was witnessed by prominent traditional rulers in Kwara South, ably 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 Asiwaju Ewe Movement Football Competition was fully sponsored by the leading Kwara South Senatorial aspirant, Professor Wale Sulaiman with the aim of fostering unity among the good people of Kwara South for regional development and youth capacity building.
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, Honourable Raheem Adedoyin, and the Provost of College of Education, Oro, Professor Mukaila Aremu. Also awarded were: Honourable E. Oyedepo, Honourable Oladipo Kadiri Asunmoge; Barrister Rasak Alabi; Honourable Emmanuel Ajewolede; Alhaji AbdulFatai Akorede; Honourable Titilope Akogun; Barrister Teju Adeyemi; Honourable Jesufemi Adeyemi; Honourable Ganiyu Zubair; Honourable William Adeleye, and Pastor Segun Buoye, among others.
The football match was witnessed by sports enthusiasts, professional footballers, political juggernauts, representative of Omo Ibile Igbomina, Igbomina Youth Assembly Excos, Ajase-Ipo Descendent Union Excos, ODU Representatives, and massive fans. The competition also enjoyed impressive media coverage with live commentary by the sports veteran, Mr. Bayour Issa.