The Chief Executive Officer of Ilaji Hotel & Sports Resort, Engr. Dotun Sanusi has unveiled the logo and fixtures to herald the commencement of the first edition of Ilaji Football League.
The league according to Engr. Sanusi is targeted at promoting the love, unity within the people of Oyo State and to engage the youth in sporting activities.
The League Director, Mrs. Nike Remi Olarinde, who spoke on behalf of Engr. Sanusi, implored all the participants, match officials, coaches and players to properly conduct themselves in order for the aims and objectives of the competition to be achieved.
While charging the match officials to carry out their duties in line with rules and regulations guiding the game of football, Engr. Sanusi encouraged coaches and players to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and not to see the competition as a ‘do or die’ affair.
The Sports Resort’s CEO expressed that the involvement of Oyo State Football Association and traditional rulers is to ensure that all necessary technical inputs are put in place and high level of discipline is observed before, during and after the competition among the participants.
Engr. Sanusi clarified that he has no interest in which team wins the league competition, rather to promote talents that will develop football in Oyo State and the country at large.
The League Consultant and Facilitator, Prince Dapo Ajibade gave the assurance that the talents discovered will be nurtured to prominence, saying that it is in line of this that the financier of the competition, Engr. Sanusi acquired a football club in Europe.
While unveiling the logo for the league on behalf of the resort Chairman, Prince Ajibade said that 10 teams from 10 towns in the state are participating. The towns include Ibadan, Oyo, Saki, Ibarapa and Ogbomoso.
Others are Kishi, Igboho, Iseyin, Igbeti and Ilaji Football Club.
The Secretary, Oyo State Football Association, Mr. Kehinde Ojelowo assured of the total support of the association to ensure the success of the competition.
While commending the organizer, he said that the competition will go a long way in the area of sports promotion, which he said will translate to its development in Oyo State.
Mr. Ojelowo opined that the organizers, with the assistance of Oyo FA will run the league in line with FIFA, football ruling body’s rules and regulations.
The Ilaji Football League competition 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 of Igboho United, Ibadan United, Saki United, Kishi United and Igbeti United.
The league will kicks off with an opening match in the group A between Iseyin United and Ibarapa United and Ibadan United versus Igboho United in group B.
The date of the screening and commencement of the league will be communicated later, according to the organizers.
Present at the unveiling are the representatives of all the ten towns, traditional rulers, Prince Totoola Adeyemi, Oyo, Alhaji Azeez Tunde, Iseyin, Adika Ayoade, Saki, Babatunde Olubola, Ilaji and Alhaji Olaniyan, Igboho.
Others included Evangelist G. Ayankunle, Ibarapa, Prince Oyebisi Oluwatoyese, Igbeti, Sulaiman Jimoh, Kishi, Adeola Oloko, Ibadan and Alhaji Muhammad Jamiu, Ogbomoso.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
