The quiet community of Akanran came alive recently when Ilaji Football Club, a newly established Football Academy situated within Ilaji Stadium and Resorts Center, played host to Shinning Stars FC from Ido Local government of Oyo State.
The friendly encounter was reminiscent of the Principal Cup of the olden days which was characterized with youthful anxiety, breathtaking skills and frenzy cheers from local spectators who thronged the yet-to-be-commissioned Ilaji Stadium and ceaselessly cheered up their local teams.
At the end of the regulation time, Ilaji Football Academy defeated Shining Stars FC by two goals to nil. The goals were scored on either side of the match.
During a post match interview, the Chairman of Ilaji Stadium & Resorts Center and the owner of Ilaji Football Academy, Engr. Dotun Sanusi, expressed his satisfaction with the quality of skills displayed by both teams as well as the vociferous supports given to the teams by the spectators.
He urged well meaning individuals in the state to invest in grassroot football with a view to rekindling and reviving the lost glory of the Principal Cup stating that by so doing, they will not only be helping the society to be crime free but will also help the country’s future leaders achieve their life-long ambition of being useful to themselves as well as their immediate society.
While delivering their addresses, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela and his counterpart from the Youths and Sports Ministry, Barrister Yomi Oke, both of whom were in attendance during the explosive encounter appreciated the level of sporting infrastructure seen at Ilaji Stadium & Resorts Center. They expressed optimisms that the future of grassroot football in Oyo State in general and Ona-Ara LG in particular is very bright.
They lauded Engr. Sanusi’s efforts at positively engaging secondary school students which they described as legendary and exemplary.
In his address, the leader of the visiting team who is also the Executive Chairman of Ido Local Government, Hon. Wahab Oladejo, expressed his happiness at the sporting infrastructure being put in place in Ilaji Stadium and Resorts Center as well as the outcome of the match.
Packaged by Mayowa Owogbade
