Ibadan Recreation Club tops at the maiden edition of the Oyo Premier Club Games Festival held on Thursday at the Club premises in Oyo town, Oyo state.
While Oyo Premier Club 1960 won a game out of the four games played during the competition, Ibadan Recreation Club won three games played during the competition.
The games played include lawn tennis, table tennis, darts and ayo olopon, while the Oyo premier club won the ayo olopon game, the Ibadan Recreation club won the lawn tennis, table tennis, and dart games during the festival.
Participating clubs at the Games Festival include Oyo Premier Club, Ibadan Recreation Club, Abeokuta Sports Club, Ilesha Sports Club and Oyo Recreation Club.
Speaking shortly after the end of the competition, the President, Oyo Premier Club, Barrister Jide Olanipekun explained that the competition is mainly organised to stimulate the interest of its members in sporting activities.
Adding that the festival is in line with the objective of the founding fathers of the club which according to him is to always engage in Recreational activities to put the body and souls together.
He said “This is the maiden edition of the games Festival and it’s very significant in the way of interacting with other neighboring clubs in Ibadan, Ijesha, Abeokuta, Oyo and all over the World, although all the clubs are affiliated to us, while we put this together is to continue the interactions with other clubs outside Oyo, as well as stimulating the Interest of their members more in sporting activities, so that the objective of the founding fathers will be realized.
“The objective is to always engage in recreational activities to put the body and soul together, we know the importance of games, it’s what used to put the brain to a very good test and make the blood agile. Most of our members here in Oyo are old and retirees, but we don’t want them to be sitting down at home, they come here every day to engage in sporting activities and we want a mini competition that will put to test what they’ve been doing day-in day-out,” he said.
Also speaking, Chairman, Tennis Club, Ibadan Recreation Club, Commandant Ademola Ajibike, stated that the club is glad to win the competitions adding that the Ibadan Recreation club has come to the competition to take the trophy home.
He appreciated members of his club who participated actively in the success of the competition.
Ajibike added that the club is happy to be at the competition and would like to come back for the festival when the club is invited again.
Speaking with newsmen, Chairman, planning commitee, George Olugboyega Olatoyegun noted that the club had spent 3 months planning the festival and is glad the festival had successfully taken place.
While Assessing the performance of the Club in the competition, he noted that he is glad the club performed well in the competition adding that the club didn’t participate with the aim of winning.
Olatoyegun further added that the event will be made an annual event while more games such as drafts would be added in the future.
Chairman board of trustees, Oyo Premier Club, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola explained that this is the first time the club is organising the maiden edition of the games festival but the club annually organise tournaments for Darts game adding that the club decided to add more sporting activities this year in a bid to make it more interesting.
He added that apart from sporting activities, the club also engages in activities that will be of benefit to the indigenes of Oyo town.
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