Four young players picked, as OB 12 Global wins 36 Lion Cup in Ibadan

It was a reward for hard work for four (4) talented youngsters who made the final cut, as OB 12 Global Football Academy were crowned champions of the 36 Lion Cup in Ibadan at the weekend.

OB 12 Global were unbeaten in the 4-Team football Tourney held at the University of Ibadan Pitch and Awo Stadium, as they defeated Pacers Football Academy on Matchday One and needed the lotteries of penalty to edge Jay Oxlade 2-1 after the full time result was  1-1.

36 Lion Investment, Demmysport Agency and Wabzeem Sports put together the Lions Southwest Cup -Fantastic Four, which had eventual champions OB 12 Global Football Academy, Jay Oxlade Football Academy, Pacers Football Academy and RFO Football Academy.

Hajj Olawale Liameed Gafar, President of 36 Lion Investment said at the epic final: "The players selected,  Adebayo Solomon, Muftau Mubaarak, Shobiye Opeyemi and Mojeed Musa will be in Lagos and pass through a development programme and maybe a year, two or three hit the foreign market, all that depends on the growth of such players.

"A few will just spend six months with us before we transfer them. The players will be divided into three (3) grades of A, B and C. Among the players that were selected from the last edition, only one survived, because our football is not easy to play.

"Our coaching style is 'Go Army.Com'. If you can't be a soldier, you cannot play football. No matter how good your coach is, you must be able to be a warrior for you to play the game. One of the slogans of AS Roma of Italy, says 'Win or Die', while mine is 'If you're not willing to die for a job, you can't survive that job'. 

"Sesan Ayodele, was the player that made it and he is now in the UK, fully sponsored by this programme (36 Lion, OB 12 Global, Demmysport Agency and  Wabzeem Sports. 

"On our way to Ibadan, the youngster was invited to West Ham United to showcase his talent and the 15-year-old dazzled as he was the best player. He is also in the UK schooling and playing football, we believe he will end up becoming a top rated player in the UK when he's 18-years-old."

Speaking further, the Vice Chairman Lagos State Football Association (Lagos FA) gave a punchline, after he noted a drop in the quality of the main actors of football.

"Immediately after the programme, Coach Gullit and I have selected a player that can start making an impact in the Nigerian Premier Football League  (NPFL), from here he has earned an invite to Shooting Stars of Ibadan courtesy of the Oluyole Warriors Team Manager Dimeji Lawal.

"The quality of play all over the world is dropping, same goes with players as they think more of money than playing and I don't fault the trend looking at the different challenges. But I want to implore you as young players to keep working hard, and trust me when it rains, money will rain you up.

"Football is capital intensive, as it requires lots of funds, that's why critics think we waste money on football but we have the belief that we will recoup our investment with huge profits at the end of the day.

"OB 12 Global and Jay Oxlade, Pacers and RFO, ideally should be funded with a minimum of Five Million Naira (N5,000, 000) each per season by their Local Government, but we find ourselves in an unfortunate situation. We are doing a wonderful job in a very challenging platform, the platform is Nigeria and everyone will survive Nigeria.

"When I say we will survive Nigeria; the country will be here but we'll do good and revive our nation, because Nigeria needs a revival, and it's you all that will do it.

"When I said the quality of players dropping, normally I am supposed to select two young talents from the teams but I can only pick three players from the team that finished fourth. It's interesting as despite finishing 4th, we saw three best talents in the team.

"We'll invite the three of them to Lagos, the coach of the team has done a good job nurturing his lads, they fought a gallant fight in the tourney, while the players selected are rewarded for his hard work."

Ex-footballers hold UNIBADAN to a still with 7th Reunion celebrations

 

... Rewards Edith Agoye, Patrick Ngwaogu, Abiodun Salami Others

The community of the Premier University in the country, University of Ibadan was agog at the weekend when the Ex-Footballers of the citadel of learning held their 7th World Reunion.

The event started with a visit to the Vice Chancellor of the institution Professor Kayode Adebowale in his office. 

However, the University's Director of Public Communications Oladejo Olatunji was on ground to receive the Ex-Footballers many of who represented the University and country in various competitions. The University appreciated the ex-students for their efforts in ensuring that they reunite after years of graduation, while appreciating the efforts in their steps towards their almamater. 

Earlier, the President of the Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association Edwin Ebvie had narrated the concept of the Association to the Vice-Chancellor's representative, and appreciated them for giving them an enabling environment to reunite, moreover  giving out the highly revered Trenchard Hall to the Association for their get together. 

The Ex-Footballers later took to the pitch of the Obafemi Awolowo Students pitch in the University to play a tournament between Team Mutiu Adepoju and Team Rotimi Alli, which ended in penalty shootouts. 

When a winner could not emerge, it was decided that the trophy be presented to Coach Abiodun Salami, the outgoing Director of Sports in the University who is retiring from the University after attaining the mandatory years in service. 

The occasion was climax with a reunion dinner held at the Trenchard Hall of the University, various awards were given to some members of the Association among whom are two former Internationals, 3SC Head Coach Edith Olumide Agoye and Dr Abiodun Salami outgoing University of Ibadan Director of Sports, Patrick Ngwaogu former Abia Warriors FC Sporting Director, Prof Oluwasegun Adekunle, Chairman  Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association Board of Trustees, the President of Association Edwin Evbie. Others are Tunde Ojo (Answer), Olawale Taoheed Raji.

Ex University of Ibadan Footballers Storm Ibadan For 7th World Reunion

The Premier University in country, the University of Ibadan will on Saturday,  18th day of December, 2021, play host to the Ex-Footballers of the citadel of learning at the 7th Annual Reunion of the Association. 

In a statement signed by the Association's Public Relations Officer, Henry Duru, he said that all is now set for the annual Reunion of the  Association, which will among other things include a Football tournament among the ex-players in the morning at the University of Ibadan New stadium. There will also be  a Get-together Dinner Party in the evening at the Trenchard Hall of the University. 

The image maker further stated that the Vice-Chancellor of the Premier University Professor Kayode Adebowale will perform the ceremonial kick off of the mini Football tournament. 

He said that the Reunion event will also be used to Honour the retiring Director of Sports of the University, Dr Abiodun Salami, who has been a father figure to most of the Footballers that passed through the institution. Other individuals will also be given awards at the dinner.

Meanwhile, both the Team Manager and Chief Coach of the Shooting Stars Sports Club, Dimeji Lawal and Edith Agoye have  regretted their inability to attend the Réunion program  which they are an integral part. 

The two former Ex-internationals said the Reunion coincides with the Match Day 1 of the 2021 /2022 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) season. 3SC are already in Gombe to battle Gombe United.  

In a message to the Association, the duo said "In as much as we should have loved to be a part of the Reunion event, we also owe it a duty to pilot the affairs of 3SC in the Premiership in far away Gombe. We are totally with our mates in spirit and also seek for their prayers for 3SC in the new season" they concluded.

Uni Ibadan VC to declare Ex-UI Footballers Reunion Open

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale will declare open the 7th World University of Ibadan Ex-Footballers reunion holding on 18th December 2021 at the University of Ibadan Sports Complex.

Announcing this at the weekend, the President of the Association Edwin Evbie said the Vice Chancellor will be accompanied to the event by the Association's Board of Trustees Chairman Professor (Mogaji) Oluwasegun Adekunle.

Quoting his words, the President said "this 7th edition is going to be unique. We are starting at exactly 8am at the Obafemi Awolowo playing pitch in the University, where all the ex-footballers that represented the premier institution in the past are expected to display the skills that made them the cynosure of all in the past. We would also have a get together party later in the evening within the  University. The unique thing about this edition is that some individuals that have contributed immensely to the establishment of this Association will be recognized with awards. There will also be a special event for the Director of Sports of the University, Dr Abiodun Salami who will be retiring from the services of the University after serving as a student, footballer, coach, lecturer and administrator. It will be a fun packed event " the boss rounded up.

The University of Ibadan has produced a number of athletes and footballers of repute including but not limited to ex Super Eagles stars Mutiu Adepoju and Dimeji Lawal, current 3SC Coach Edith Agoye, ex junior international goal keeper Christian Obi, Adebayo Gbadebo (Thailand based coach), Victor Uzoho (Finland based coach), Dr. Robinson Okosun (Super Eagles Psychologist), Prof. Adekunle (BOT Chairman), Festus Adegoju (Chairman, Nigerian Coaches Association,  Oyo State chapter), Barr.Rotimi Alli and Ex Abia Warriors FC Technical Director - Patrick Ngwaogu, amongst others.

Ex University of Ibadan footballers set for 7th World Reunion

All is set for the 7th edition of the Ex University of Ibadan Footballers Association (EXUIFA) reunion.  The event is scheduled for 18th December, 2021 at University campus. 

According to the Association's Public Relations Officer, Henry Duru, the 2021 edition of the event promises to be the best Reunion so far, considering the programs that have been  in place. 

He said the Reunion will involve a football match in  at the University of Ibadan New Sports Center, to be followed by a Get-together party  later on the same day. 

Expected to grace the occasion are footballers that have passed through the Premier University among whom are on the day are  Dr Abiodun Salami, the outgoing Director of Sports, University of Ibadan, Professor Oluwasegun Adekunle, the Chairman of the Association's Board of Trustees, Mr Edwin Evbie, the Association's President, Dr Robinson Okosun, of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Rotimi Alli, the Chairman of the Ibadan Football Association (IFA), DCP Kunle Olusokan (Zagalo), Coaches Adebayo Gbadebo, Head Coach of Suphanburi FC in the Thailand Premier League,  Christian Obi, Heartland FC Owerri, Edith Agoye, 3SC FC, Ibadan, Patrick Ngwaogu, former Abia Warriors FC Sporting Director, Iyiola Ogundele. Ex Internationals like Mutiu Adepoju, Dimeji Lawal, Andrew Uwe, Folorunsho Okenla among others. 

Those in the diaspora will include Barrister Kolade Oladokun (Canada), Benjamin Gopaldresg, Tunde Ojo, Deji Tony Mobility(US), Musa Omokhabi (France), Kola Okolo, Vitanus Okwara,(UK) among others

Sack rumour won't distract Shooting Stars - Rasheed Balogun

The management of Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan (3SC) has refuted a report on social media and few mushroom sports websites, that HIS Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde had ordered the club to sack one of its players. 

The blogger had on Tuesday, published a report where he allegedly claim that Adeyemi,  a son of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Bisi Olopoeniyan, was dropped from the team at the order of the Oyo State Governor.

 

Astute football administrator par excellence, Rashid Balogun 'Ekule Kule' who piloted the Oluyole Warriors to gaining promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after it triumphs at the Nigerian National League (NNL) Super 8 play-off in Enugu, said there was no iota of truth in the report, as its cheap blackmail to rubbish the fantastic gesture by  Oyo State Government towards the club.

According to 3SC General Manager, "Football is a practical thing in all climes, you will agree with me that it's a normal routine that at the end of every football season, all positively driven clubs will take time to access the depth of their squad. 

"They look at the Key Performance Indexes (KPI) of all their players during the football calendar, those found to have recorded good KPIs will be asked to stay and begin preparations for the new season while those considered as surplus requirements would be asked to leave or rather placed on the transfer market. 

"The Oluyole Warriors management did no wrong when it asked the coaching crew to undertake such process. 

" I can authoritatively confirm to you that the said player was not dropped, the list of players dropped has not been published. The few that left the club are only those who came forward for their release papers.

People should learn how to separate sports from politics.

"It's negative for critics using Bloggers to now conclude that it was a witch hunt on the said player, then quoting that after a big wig in the state had personal issues with the Governor, so the player became the victim of the fall-out. 

"How would the Governor who works round the clock every day be keeping tabs with numerous developmental projects in the nooks and crannies of Oyo State be more interested about Shooting Stars retaining or dropping a player.

"That statement is fallacious and whoever was quoted to have said so is been petty and childish. It's not as if Governor Seyi Makinde (GSM) is playing politics with the club and never has he done. 

" Shooting Stars remains a sports project of Oyo State Government and funded from taxes got from the good people of the state who are passionate and die-hard supporters of the club."

Shooting Stars place 20 players on labor market

As part of its restructuring programme to immediately return Shooting Stars Football Club to the elite division of the Nigeria League, the Management of the team has released 20 players out of the 40 registered last season.

Shooting Stars snap Rivers' sweet run

An energetic display full of verve and endeavour was all Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) required to snap the unbeaten start of Rivers United to this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). 

Rivers United hope to bounce back against Stars

Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and Rivers United will meet on Sunday in an intriguingly-poised Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash in Ibadan.

MFM duo aims to Shoot down 3SC

The duo of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club strikers, Olatunbosun Sikiru and Adegboyega Adekunle are seeking for their first away victory of the season against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) this midweek in Ibadan.

Federation Cup Preview: Rivers United vs Enyimba Int'l

A special football match awaits as two of the grand establishments in Nigerian football get to meet in a wonderful place-the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan-to decide which side progresses to the semi-final of Nigeria’s oldest football competition, the Federation Cup.