Ilaji Football League kicks off

From left, Prince Totoola Adeyemi, representative of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola (third right); Mr Adeola Oloko, representative of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji (second left); Alhaji Yekeen Jamiu representative of the Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi; Mr Kehinde Oyeleke, secretary of the Oyo State Football Association; Mrs Nike Remi-Olarinde, director of Ilaji Football League (IFL) and General Manager of Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, during the unveiling of the IFL logo, last Saturday, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The logo and fixtures of Ilaji Football League have unveiled to herald the commencement of the clubs competition.

The league, according to the Chief Executive Officer of Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort, Chief Dotun Sanusi, is aimed at promoting love and unity among the people of Oyo State and engaging the youth in worthwhile sporting activities.

The league director, Mrs Nike Remi Olarinde, who performed the unveiling on behalf of Chief Sanusi, underscored the need for all participants, including match officials, coaches and players, to exhibit sportsmanlike conduct so that the aims and objectives of the competition could be realised.

Sanusi, while charging the match officials to uphold the rules and regulations of the game, encouraged coaches and players to be noble-spirited and not see the competition as a do-or-die affair.

ALSO READ: Sanusi plans basketball academy at Ilaji

He explained that the involvement of the Oyo State Football Association and traditional rulers was logistical as well as to ensure that a high level of discipline was maintained before, during and after the competition.

Sanusi clarified that he had no interest in which team wins the league as he was resolved to promote talents develop football in Oyo State and the country at large.

The league consultant and facilitator, Prince Dapo Ajibade, gave the assurance that talents that are discovered during the league would be nurtured to maturity, in line with the vision of the financier of the competition, Sanusi.

Ajibade said 10 teams from 10 towns in the state would be participating in the competition and the teams include Ibadan, Oyo, Saki, Ibarapa and Ogbomoso.

ALSO READ: Delta, Kwara win MASM football tourney

Others are Kishi, Igboho, Iseyin, Igbeti and Ilaji Football Club.

The secretary of the Oyo State Football Association, Mr Kehinde Ojelowo, promised the support of the association to ensure the success of the competition.

Ojelowo expressed the view that the organisers, with the assistance of the Oyo FA, will run the league in line with the dictates of the Federal of International Football (FIFA), which is football’s ruling body’s rules.

The Ilaji Football League will feature ten teams divided into two groups, with group A consisting of Oyo United, Ogbomoso United, Iseyin United, Ilaji Football Club and Ibarapa United, while group B comprises Igboho United, Ibadan United, Saki United, Kishi United and Igbeti United.

The league will kick off with an opening match in group A between Iseyin United and Ibarapa United and Ibadan United versus Igboho United in group B.

ALSO READ: Why sport development is slow in Nigeria —Dotun Sanusi

Organisers of the event said the date for the screening and commencement of the league would be communicated.

Present at the unveiling were representatives of all the towns’ traditional rulers. There was Prince Totoola Adeyemi (Oyo), Alhaji Azeez Tunde (Iseyin), Adika Ayoade (Saki), Babatunde Olubola (Ilaji) and Alhaji Olaniyan (Igboho).
Others were Evangelist G. Ayankunle (Ibarapa), Prince Oyebisi Oluwatoyese (Igbeti), Sulaiman Jimoh (Kishi), Adeola Oloko (Ibadan) and Alhaji Muhammad Jamiu (Ogbomoso).