Otunba Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke Memorial Cup: Eyiowuawi FC set up thrilling final with Hammola Int'l FC

The stage is now set for the final of this year's Otunba Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke Memorial Cup, as Babatunde Eyiowuawi FC, Ede-South defeated GFCC Ede-North by 2-0 in the second Semi-Final played on Thursday, at the Ido-Osun High School, Ido-Osun.

Goals from Farooq Oyeniyi and Taiwo Lawal in the 65th and 77th minute ensured that the Ede-South based side got to their first ever final. 

Recall that the first Semi-Final played between Hammola Int'l FC and New Dawn FC on Wednesday also ended 2-0 in favour of the Ido-Osun side. 

The final of the tournament between Hammola Int'l FC and Babatunde Eyiowuawi FC will come up this Saturday, January 15th, which is a significant date, as it is the birthday of the late first executive Governor of Osun State, Otunba Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. 

 The Competition, which is dedicated in honour of the first Civilian Governor of Osun State, Otunba Isiaka Adeleke is solely sponsored by Rep. Bamidele Salam who represents the good people of Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency of Osun State in the National Assembly.

The final of the Competition will be played at 3pm at the Federal Polytechnic Ede, Football Pitch.

Osun Apex League: NSCDC records first point, Olansile FC, HMK set to bounce back

 

Actions resume across six centres as the much publicized maiden edition of Osun Apex League enters week nine.

Os NSCDC ended its pointless streak as Bamikefa Olufemi tutored side rues a die minutes equalizer by their host, Victory Police FC. The security outfit preserved Ahmed's lone strike for the most part of the duel but Victory Police rallied to share the spoils, recall that Victory Police are victorious in the reverse encounter which ended 4-1.

The Civil Defense team who had no point throughout the first stanza of the league now have a point to their credit as they maintain same position on the log.

Olansile FC and H. M. K FC will like to bounce back from their disappointment away from home and seek redemptions. H. M. K FC who tasted defeats for the first time in Okuku  as second round kicks off would bank on their scoring winger Qudus and gangling striker Azeez  while hosting Victory Police FC. Ayedire Utd will have their hands full while engaging Omo Mummy Boys in far away Ileogbo.  

The league top scorer Habeeb Olanrewaju who inspired Hammola FC to come back and secured a draw against resurgent Akoment FC will like to sustain his scoring form while playing as a guest to Osun NSCDC. 

The likes of Otin Babes, Timi Giants and Fehinty FC are capable of causing upset as they all play away from home this weekend. Despite picking draws in their last games, the ldo Osun based outfits Hammola FC and Fehinty FC are still topping their respective groups.

The top two teams in each group would eventually qualify for Super 4 to determine the actual league winner.

Osun Apex League is packaged and financed by Osun FA under the distinguished sports financier Alhaji Rasaq lshola Mustapha RIM. The Grand Prize of 120, 000 and 100, 000 have been earmarked for the eventual winner and runner’s up. There are countless exciting gifts also for participating teams and individual awards are also in the offing. The second stanza will kick start again by Wednesday, 20th October 2021.

Osun Apex League

Week 9 Fixtures 

Wednesday 27-10-2021

Os NSCDC Vs Hammola FC 1pm

Akoment Vs Otin Babes 3pm

H. M. K. FC Vs Victory Police FC 3pm

Saturday 30-10-2021

Ayedire Utd Vs Olansile FC  1pm

Orolu Vs Timi Giants  3pm

Hadji Hammed Vs Fehinty FC  3pm

Hon. Yemi Lawal: 'The Working Process' Who Dared to be Different

By Tunde Shamsudeen

Basking in the euphoria of the success recorded at the maiden edition of the Osun Sports Festival tagged OSF21, Honourable Yemi Azeez Lawal deserves all the encomiums and indeed the positive-minded people in the state who want to see sports thrive.

This write up is not geared towards praise signing the subject matter, Lawal as other challenges still lie ahead but as I pour my thoughts out, HIS Excellence Governor Adegboyega Oyetola deserves some kudos too for breaking barriers naming Lawal as Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Special Needs in 2019.

Uneasy they say lies the head that wears the crown, that was the case of Honourable Yemi Lawal after he assumed office as Osun Sports was in disarray and needed solutions been proffered to.

Like every other Commissioner that has come and gone, Lawal is an exception as he came with a blueprint all with the view to restructuring sports in the state. His blueprints gave birth to the Osun Sports Festival which was a success as we were living witness to, except one wants to rob Paul to pay Peter by not wanting to give him credits.

Lawal is not the loquacious type rather reserved, his qualitative depth, diligence and commitment to hard work has seen him achieve much within a short period, thus sealing the lips of his critics who are known for their 'Pull Him Down Syndrome'.

Just two years down the line, he has gradually navigated his ways calling the shots amidst the myriads of problems that keep cropping up, day after day in a state, that sees sports as a recreation, not as a revenue-generating industry.

The first agenda of the soft-spoken astute politician cum sports administrator was to proffer solutions to series of internal and external crises that bedevilled the state-funded male and female football teams Osun United, Osun Babes and other sports,  which of course were hampering the growth of the beautiful round leather game and indeed sports in the state. 

He also had to stick out his neck to mediate in the controversy surrounding contract coaches and performing athletes for peace to reign for other sports to thrive.

These are some of the peculiar challenges Yemi Lawal faced before focusing on the financial challenges each sports association in a state where facing, as sports funding was largely done by the state government. 

For the avoidance of doubt, the rot in Osun sports did not start today neither was it orchestrated by Yemi Lawal. It is something that could be traced to the decline in government support and the appointment/election into the office by selfish sports administrators who think more about personal benefits than the interest of the state.

But, was there a chance for Lawal to solve all these problems in 4years? The answer was NO for critics who lacked vision by not wearing the thinking and problem-solving caps. But as he made efforts to address some of the issues, light began to shine at the end of the tunnel as YES became the answer. 

Take for instance the just concluded maiden Osun Sports Festival tagged OSF21, which targeted at discovering talents from the different nooks and crannies of the state. This was because successive governments had only committed funds towards football only, hence neglected other sports.

On record, more than 1,000 athletes took part in 31 different sports and football, as dreams became realities and above all individual or team records were made at the sporting fiesta that promoted friendship among athletes from the Local Government Councils and Development Areas in the state.

However, Yemi had dared to be different from previous Commissioners by embarking on massive reformation. For the first time, I saw a man who was not afraid to tread where many have failed.

Many may refuse to see what he has been doing but posterity will surely judge the Sports Commissioner as one who moved mountains to get Osun sports to a greater height. 

But this is just the beginning as he is not relenting despite knowing that many obstacles still lie ahead.

Small Doctor, Lagbaja, others storm Osogbo for Osun Sports Festival Finale

Osun sports fans most especially those in Osogbo the state capital, will witness an evening to remember as Nigerian Fuji, Afro-Pop recording artist and performer Adekunle Temitope, better known by his stage name Small Doctor and others will storm the grand finale of the Osun Sorts Festival.

The Osun Sports Festival blueprint introduced by the  Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Yemi Lawal and had 31 sporting events for the fiesta that will cut across the state.

It won't be a thing of 'Oti gba penalty losi throwing' as Small Doctor confirmed the news.

In a short video, he posted on social media sites, assured his fans that he will be live on stage after he said from 'Agege to Osogbo'

"Ain you can call me Small Doctor Omo Iya Teacher. To my fans, I will be live at the finale of the Osun Sports Festival on Thursday October 7th. Let's catch fun, Agege nbo losun Iyanu ma sele."

The event which is billed for on October 7 is tagged Osun Sports Festival Grand Finale and Concert and will see other artists like Mohbad, Papiwizzy, Bash the comedian, Do T Phlex,  Fabulous Pizzy, Sadeblaq, Oyinkanade, Wyza, Queen Lagbaja, Baba Alariya, Do Nifty and Keanzo live on stage with the duo of disc jockeys Nifty and TFlex as performing djs why Hype Person is Queen Lagbaja.

It would be recalled that Honourable Lawal  extolled Governor Oyetola for creating an enabling environment for youths in the state as well as approving state sports festivals which is the s first of their kind since the creation of the state while various committees have been set up immediately.

Hammola FC goes digital, launches website

Hammola Int'l FC is a professional Nationwide League One (NLO) Division One outfit based in State of Osun.

Nicknamed ‘LeeBombers', the club which debuts in 2020/2021 league season is driven by the vision of the president to give back to humanity by providing platforms for talented grassroots players to showcase their God's given potentials and nurture them to stardom. 

Widely hailed for its distinctive football artistry that facilitates a business model, the new digital platform launched by the club  focused on fans engagement, digital archives, merchandising, players profile, fans membership, match highlights and competitions schedule.

The link www.hammolafc.com is designed for mobile and PC use and will be undergoing constant improvements from time to time, even feedback would be prioritized, because of the portal's stability and flexibility.

According to club General Manager, Coach Adediran AbdulRasheed Adeleke, " the new link would ensure positive outlets for juicy contents with our unusual activities having fans in mind.

" A new way of engaging our fans in furtherance to contents we are pushing on Facebook and Twitter, with the launch of the website, our fans will have more features and packages to benefit from." stated the GM.

Pinnick charges other zones to emulate South West

.... Insists Western Nigerian Forum will compel healthy competition

Amid pomp and glitz, but with a full appreciation of the task at hand, leaders of the South West zone of Nigerian Football on Friday in Ibadan launched the Western Nigerian Football Forum, and in the process unveiled the logos for both the Forum and the fulcrum, the Odua Football Leagues.