Inaugural Erelu Ngozi Adeleke Table Tennis Female Secondary School Championship gets May 28 opening date

 

Necessary arrangements have been put in place to have a memorable maiden "Erelu Ngozi Adeleke" Table Tennis Championship for Female Secondary School Students in Osun State. 

The Table Tennis championship is organised by SportsGig International, an outfit which deals with sporting events and athletes, in conjunction with the Osun State Table Tennis Association and other relevant bodies which includes the Osun Sports Council, Ministries of Education and Sports. 

The competition is aimed at encouraging the girl child participation in sports, which is an avenue for them to express themselves and harness their talents, thereby empowering them to succeed in sports and beyond. 

The theme of the event is "Let The Girls Play", which supports the competition's strategic ambition to give young girls equal access to participate in sports and stay away from societal vices. 

Briefing newsmen in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State on thursday, the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SportsGig International, Olayinka Olawole, stated that over 20 Schools have submitted names of participants for the event, which will kickoff on Tuesday, the 28th of May 2024, at the Ultra Modern, Micheal and Felicia Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Hall, Osogbo.

"For us at SportsGig International, we are all about getting people more involved in every aspect of Sports. He said. 

"This campaign is one that's very close to my heart, and something I am extremely passionate about, when it comes to providing a conducive environment for young people, especially girls to participate in Sports. 

"We know and understand that girls are not well encouraged to participate in sporting activities, reason this Table Tennis Championship is themed "Let The Girls Play". 

"The table tennis championship is statewide and also an avenue to drive the agenda of her Excellency, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke commitment to building a better life for the girl child in the state and beyond. 

"We really want to appreciate Her Excellency, Wife of the Governor of Osun State, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke for using her good office to create a welcoming environment for girls involvement in Sports, thereby developing their confidence, self esteem and a sense of accomplishment. In the next few days, we shall be rolling out, names of sponsors for this competition. " He Concluded. 

On his own part, Co-founder and Chief Operating Manager of SportsGig International, Ibrahim Akinokun reiterated the importance of girl child participation in sports and also the main reason behind the organization of the competition. 

 "The prevailing societal propensity is to snigger at the cardinality of the girl-child involvement in sports. This has morphed into a stereotype that has to be changed. Female athletes have brought more glory to Nigeria in international sporting arena, despite the headwind of encumbrances they often have to charge through." 

 "We cannot obscure the reality that, Nigeria's hitherto dominance of the African female table tennis landscape has waned owing to an acute dearth of young female talents to take over the baton from the veterans. It is therefore wholly within the bounds of reason the necessity to create a platform for female talent discovery and harnessing".

  "On this forthcoming championship, we are standing on the shoulders of giants, and our enthusiasm of a desired outcome of it is the sea of stars. All the pieces are sliding into place and we harbour skyscraping hope that the inaugural edition of the Erelu Ngozi Adeleke Table Tennis Championship For Female Secondary School Students will turn out a resounding success". He Concluded. 

Also speaking ahead of the event, the company's head of marketing, Mrs Tawakalitu Adeoye has promised maximum fun and excitement as never seen before. Logistics head, Ms. Tomiwa Oyekanmi assured SportsGIg International preparedness to provide an enabling environment for an healthy competition amongst the participating schools and students.

However, fixtures for the tournament was rolled out in the press conference.

 Fatimo Kazeem of St. James Grammar School, Osogbo, will tackle Martha Oluwatukesi of Osogbo Grammar School in the opening game of the competition by 9:30am, while Zainab Omotosho of Baptist Girls High School Osogbo, will battle Ifabiyi Azeezat of St. James Grammar School, Osogbo, by 11am. 

In the last game of the opening day, Olanipekun Titomi of Amazing Secondary School will play against Nafisat Abdulazeez of Osogbo Grammar School.

St. Anthony Catholic Grammar School Iwo, Baptist Grammar School, Ode-Omu, Oba Laoye Grammar School, Ede, Adventist Grammar School, Ede, St. David Grammar School, Lagere, Ile-Ife, Origbo Anglican Grammar School, Moro, NUD Grammar School, Osogbo, Unity Girls School, Osogbo, Ansar-Udeen Grammar School, Osogbo are the other participating schools in the tournament.

Excitement, glee as inaugural Osun School Sports Governor's Cup set for kick-off

 

As part of the overarching drive to put Osun State ahead of the curve in sports development through talent discovery and add a new dimension to sports development niche in the state, the maiden edition of the state School Sports Governor's Cup.

Ataoja School Of Science, Osogbo and  Orolu Commercial High School, Ifon Osun will square things up in the official kick-off billed for 10am on Tuesday at Ataoja Sports Complex, Osogbo.

The football tournament which is being sponsored by Peculiar Ultimate Concern Limited in collaboration with School's Sports Foundation, is meant to mainstream talent discovery in schools and designed for secondary school students participation to be hosted by the six(6) geopolitical zones of Osogbo, Ede, Ikirun, Iwo, Ife and Ilesha.

Kola Adewusi, Osun State Deputy Governor- Commissioner for Sports, and Osun State Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, are the guests of honour.

 

Speaking at the press briefing by the organizers of the competition, Coach Yomi Elijah and Alhaji Olayiwola Olafiranye of School Sports Foundation, said: "The competition will commence on Tuesday and its billed to run for two(2) weeks, subsequently it will be a state-wide annual event that will involve representatives from each of the local governments of the six(6) geopolitical zones. It will co-opt the students, principals and other sports stakeholders from each zone across the state. 

"Osun State is richly blessed with a pool of talents that are waiting to be taped and the best way to go about this is discovering them from schools. This competition is modeled along that of Principals' Cup, but with added touch to it. It will among others reduce youths involvement in delinquency and other social vices. 

"Rewards will be handed out to all participating schools and six(6) top teams will qualify from the zones to the quarter finals, while two(2) best losers will be picked to complete eight(8) teams on the quarter finals. Also, logistics will be provided to all the participating schools accordingly."

The Director of Coaching at Osun State Sports council, Ademola Daini, who was full of ecstasy and joy intoned; "The governor has approved feeders teams for the state's football clubs and other sports across the state. This School Sports Governors Cup will solidify and straighten the synergy to produce budding talents for these feeders teams. We are deeply grateful to the sponsors and organizers of this wonderful competition."

Meanwhile, the zonal qualifiers are to be hosted across the six(6) zones as thus:

Osogbo Zone—Ataoja School Of Science, Osogbo

Ede Zone—Ede High School, Ede.

Iwo Zone—Oluwo Stadium, Iwo

Ife Zone—Ife Anglican Grammar School, Ile-Ife

Ikirun Zone—Odo-Otin Grammar School, Okuku

Ilesha Zone— Ilesha Grammar School, Ilesha

Osogbo will host the knockout rounds and the grand finale.

AFCON 2023: Osun FA appeals to Governor Adeleke to honour Super Eagles' Ajayi, Baruwa

 

Following Nigeria's African Cup of Nations exploits at the 34th edition in Ivory Coast, the Osun State Government has been urged to honour Super Eagles rock-solid defender Semi Ajayi (MON) and Goalkeeper Trainer Tunji Baruwa (MON).

The Osun State born duo helped Nigeria to claim the silver medal after losing 2-1 to host Ivory Coast in the AFCON final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on February 11.

Sola Fanawopo, Osun State Football Association egg-head made the passionate appeal to the State number one Sports Fan- Governor His Excellency Senator Ademola Adeleke, who passion for football and reward for sporting excellence knows no bounds.

"Congratulations to both Ajayi and Baruwa for making Nigerians and indeed indigenes of Osun State proud, and not forgetting the state community (Ejigbo) in Abidjan. 

"Amazing for the duo who also received national awards (Member of the Order of Niger- MON) from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, plus other goodies.

"The Osun State football family is calling on our Governor to extend it's kind gesture by celebrating both Ajayi and Baruwa.

"Ajayi was rock-solid, partnering Troost-Ekong in Nigeria's defence and scored a superb goal against Cameroon, which ended up been ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). That effort galvanized the team and at the end the Super Eagles brushed aside the Indomitable Lions 2-0.

"Also, as Nigerians celebrated Stanley Nwabali, who was arguably one of Super Eagles best players enroute the final, credit must go to his trainer, Baruwa whose daily goalkeeping routine with him (Nwabali), had the Chippa United shot stopper bring out his best during Super Eagles matches with good composure and breath taking saves, which kept fans on the edge of their seats at the stadium, viewing centers and living rooms.

"Baruwa's halftime pep talks with Nwabali, spurred him to win the Man of the Match award in Nigeria's victory over South Africa in the semi-final of the  AFCON after saving two penalties to send the Super Eagles into the final.

"Just as Governor Adeleke celebrated Super Falcons' duo of Rasheedat Ajibade and Rofiat Imuran after Nigeria's brilliant outing in the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and D'Tigress star Olawuyi Adenike Olayemi for making Nigeria proud as part of the team that won the 2023 FIBA Women's Afrobasket title, we at the Osun FA are appealing to His Excellency to honour the Super Eagles duo.

"The Osun FA is also appealing to the State Deputy Governor-cum-Commisaioner for Sports and Youth Development Kola Olawusi to use his good office to persuade Governor Adeleke in this regard."