Share Ward III on Thursday January 23 2025, emerged champions of the maiden edition of Ifelodun Chairman’s Cup football tournament among the Wards in the Local Government Area.
The colourful final was decided at the pitch of ECWA Secondary School, Igbaja.
The competition, according to the Chairman, Hon. Abdulrasheed Femi Yususf, was introduced to give the talented youths a pathway, and to also select players across the Local Government Area ahead of the Sar’dauna of Ilorin football competition that will be staged to honour Kwara Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in February.
The Inter-Local Government football competition, to be organised by the Kwara State Sports Commission in conjunction with Ultimate Sports Consult Limited is being planned to celebrate the birthday of the Governor.
According to the Chairman, “the U-16 competition was staged to complement the contributions of the Governor to sports development, and we also planned to use it to select players for the forthcoming Sar’dauna Cup competition.
“We have equally inaugurated a 20-man Sports Development Committee, with a charge to identify and nurture young talents in sports in all the nooks and crannies of the Local Government. We are also working on ways to partner spirited individuals and private organisations in developing our sports facilities.
Hon. Femi Yusuf, while commending the participants, charged the youths to take advantage of the opportunity provided by his administration, and by extention, that being provided by Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Magaji, who picked two of the players for Kwara Football Academy scholarship commended the Chairman for the initiative, which, according to him, will broaden development platforms for the young ones.
He charge all the 16 Local Government Areas of the state to provide Offices at their Councils for the Commission to extend its talent discovery centre to the grassroots.
13 of the 18 Wards of the Local Government took part in the competition. Igbaja I defeated Agunjin by a lone goal to win third place prize, while Share III defeated Oke-Ode II 4-3 on penalties, after playing out a goalless draw at regulation time, to win the trophy. The winners got N300,000, N200,000 and N100,000 in that order, including medals.
20 players were selected altogether, in preparation for the Sar’dauna of Ilorin football competition.
Abdulazeez Abdulgafar from Igbaja I was picked as the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Olomofe Victor from Share III, with six goals emerged as the Highest Goal Scorer (HGS), while Oloyede Roqeeb from Share III won the Best Goalkeeper award. The trio went home with medals and cash prizes.
Among those present at the ocassion, who also got awards are the Deputy Speaker, Kwara House of Assembly, Hon. Olayiwola Ojo, Chief Press Secretary to Kwara Governor, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaiye, Mallam Bola Magaji, Hon. A. G. F. Salaudeen, the Chairman of Irepodun LG, Hon. Abdulazeez Yakubu, Speaker, Ifelodun LG, Hon. Garba Jimoh, the SA Digital and Creative World, Hon. Kayode Ishola and Hon. Ishola Olateju Olurungbebe.
Others are Mallam Ibrahim Bako, the Director of Sports at the Sports Commission, all the Elesee-in-Council, Chairman, Ifelodun Sports Committee, Hon. Shonibare Bayo, the Chairman, Radio Kwara Chapel of NUJ, Mallam AbdulRosheed Okiki, and the Chairman, Ifelodun Football Council, Hon. Dauda Bello.
