For Titiloye Olakumbi Clement and the Chairmanship of Kwara United Football Club, it’s just a routine management obligation, even though it goes with a series of ground breaking feats.

He is undoubtedly an achiever with sets of accomplishments. He is demonstrating ambition, determination, and a strong internal drive. He is proactive, focused on results, and sees challenges as opportunities for growth.

And that was why year after year, season after season, the results kept coming, irrespective of the mounting challenges.

When in September 2019, he was appointed as the Chairman of the club, opposition, as usual, rose to challenge such a decision which shattered the ambitions of many who had thought it would come their way. But six years down the line, it kept getting better, the results kept coming, achievements mounting, jinx broken, and ….. according to him, “more will still come”.

To any given government, results and achievements means a lot. It’s important and significant for political reasons, and a measure of improvement in the ecosystem.

That was the yardstick that the government of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq considered when he offered Kumbi another tenure of four years in office in 2023, after the expiration of the first achievement packed tenure.

Barely two weeks after the dissolution of Kwara United Football Club Board, under Kumbi, the Oro-born seasoned Sports Administrator was re-appointed, as the Executive Chairman of the club.

In a letter dated July 18, 2023, and signed by the Permanent Secretary, General Services at the Office of the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Mallam Abdulrahman Ameen Babatunde, the appointment, which took effect from Tuesday July 18th, 2023, stated that “The approval is based on your excellent record of your loyalty, steadfastness, and favourable disposition to the course of this administration”

Considering the tough environmental challenges in football in the state when he was appointed as Chairman, one would want to conclude that sustaining Kwara United in the apex league for six consecutive seasons is a great feat that can only be achieved by a focused administrator. After six seasons under the reigns of Kumbi, the team has had unbroken campaigns in the top flight, amidst numerous environmental factors, and avoidable challenges, and equally crowned it all by winning double honours, the President Federation Cup and the N-Youth League Super 8 trophies, in the just concluded season.

That’s a great achievement, taking into consideration the challenges faced by the team all along, especially in the just concluded season.

Consideration of the numerous challenges faced by the club this just concluded season, escaping relegation will obviously be considered an achievement. For the past six years, for the first time ever, Kwara United has not gone on relegation.

Before now, it was a routine journey that had somewhat become a tradition for the team to swing from the elite league and the Nigeria National League (NNL). Kumbi ensured that that disturbing tradition was eradicated.

When the journey started in 2019, the team was primed to compete in the Nigeria National League (NNL) in the 2019/2020 football league season, but had a rise in status after just few matches in the second tier league, owing largely to the magnanimity of the state Governor, who approved the buying over of the Nigeria Professional Premier League (NPFL) slot of Delta Force, after ten matches into the NPFL season. The team however, had a rough season.

After coming out of that rough road unscathed, the lessons learnt were enough to raise the bar, beyond expectations.

From Kwara Water Corporation Football Club, the team has gone through various metamorphosis; Kwara Utility Bombers of Ilorin and later, Kwara Bombers Football Club, and now, Kwara United Football Club.

In 1997, that was after 30 years of the creation of the state, and about 17 years of the Nigeria Football league, the state signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Exide Batteries Limited on January 17, 1997, to acquire the then Exide Sparkers Football Club, which was renamed Kwara United. That elevation collided with the 30th anniversary of the state.

Kwara, no doubt, is one of the early sports-conscious states, but had not won the President Federation Cup before the just concluded season. The Nigeria Federation Cup is the main football single-elimination tournament in Nigeria contested by 74 teams, representing the 36 states and the FCT of Nigeria. It is the Nigerian domestic Cup competition. The tournament was created in 1945 as the “Governor’s Cup”.

It was later known as the Nigeria FA Cup from (1954–1959), Nigeria Challenge Cup (1960–1998), Coca-Cola FA Cup (1999–2008) and Nigeria Federation Cup (2009–2016). Between 2017 and 2022, the competition was sponsored by the AITEO group and known as the AITEO Cup including the women’s tournament.

Since 1945, which by calculation, is now 80 years ago, Kwara United and indeed, any team from the state hasn’t won the trophy. The nearest a team from the state, Alyuf Salam Rocks, a privately owned club, reached the final, but lost it to Rangers International of Enugu by 2-0. That was in 1976, 49 years ago, to be exact.

Winning the Federation Cup trophy was a plus for the state, Governor AbdulRazaq, each and every player that made it happen, as well as the Head Coach of the team, Coach Tunde Sanni Salihu, and the Chairman of the club, Kumbi Titiloye.

So far, the President Federation Cup winning feat is the most prestigious sports present to the Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in his six years of administering the state. It represents a special appreciation for his commitment to sports development.

Between 2019 and now, the much needed stability is being achieved in leadership, professionalism, required management input and growth. Its six years of memorable and historic achievement.

But for Kumbi, “it’s a collective achievement by all Kwarans, beginning with the Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. We have come a long way, through thick and thin, ups and downs, but we have remained resolute on taking care of the challenges as they crop up. Special thanks to the Governor, for giving us the support, always.

“I must also commend the State Sports Commission, under Mallam Bola Magaji, the football fraternity in the state, especially the State FA, the Referees Council, Supporters and Fans Club, the sports journalists and other stakeholders, for standing behind the team.

“The potential is there for Kwara United to improve and win more laurels, but we must shun sentiments, continue to work together, and believe in the fact that the club belongs to the state, and not any individual. It’s about all of us, not about an individual.

“The club has united Kwarans more than ever before, and this can be evidenced in the turn-out during our matches, especially in semi-final and final matches of the Federation Cup in Lagos. Our players draw strength and inspiration from that imposing atmosphere to enhance performance and results. We thank all our sponsors and partners”, he said.

Under Kumbi and his able lieutenants who include the General Manager, Bashir Badawiy, the Secretary, Wale Obalola and others, the club has now won two continental tickets within four years. Besides hiring a stop gap coach in person of Coach Abdulazeez Mohammed when Coach Abdullahi Biffo left, Kwara United has achieved all feats under indigenous coaches. First, it was Coach Biffo, followed by Coach Kabir Sukaiman Dogo, and now, Coach Tunde Sanni, who is more or less, Kwara United personified.

Coach Tunde Sanni was a foundation player of the team, former Assistant Captain and Captain, two times Assistant Coach and Chief Coach, who is now serving his second term as Technical Adviser of the team. The consideration of the home coaches has also given rise to the consideration of home boys.

For Kumbi, the achievements are overwhelming and daunting. The Oro, Irepodun born marketer and astute Administrator is obviously not yet done breaking new grounds with the team. Speaking to newsmen during the reception held for the team at the State Banquet Hall in Ilorin, he averred that: “Our next target will be to win the NPFL title”.