Gbonyin Local Government Football Team and Phoniex Queens FC have emerged winners of the 2019 Governor Kayode Fayemi Football Competition.
The competition, which covered both male and female categories, is part of Governor Fayemi’s effort to develop sporting activities in Ekiti State, especially in the area of talent discovery.
The final matches of the JKF Football Competition were played on Thursday, December 26th, 2019 at the Oluyemi Olukayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti for both the female and the male categories.
Speaking at the final of the competition, the state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Honourable Michael Awopetu, appreciated Dr. Kayode Fayemi for his support, moral and financial to develop sports through the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The commissioner noted that Governor Fayemi’s uncommon interest in sports’ development was borne out of his passion for youths and his determination to engage them meaningfully.
Awopetu expressed satisfaction at the process that led to the completion of the 2019 JKF Under 15 Football Competition in the State.
The commissioner acknowledged efforts of the members of the Ekiti State Sports Council, supporters’ club, the Ekiti Football Association, referees association, planning committee in the state, the match officials, coaches and players of all the teams that participated in the competition, saying that they all contributed immensely to the success of the competition.
In the female category, Phoenix Queens FC defeated Fatoba Queens FC by two goal to nothing (2-0) to emerge champion, while Promise City FC emerged second runner-up (third position).
In the male category, Gbonyin Local Government football team defeated Ado Ekiti Local Government to claim the first position by three goals to nil (3-0)
Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government emerged second runner up (third position). While the Fair Play Award was won by Efon Local Government in the male category.
While presenting trophies to the winners, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Football Association (FA), Mr. Bayo Lanlege, thanked the governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi for his support towards making the event a huge success as a result of his encouragement from the onset.
According to the Chairman, “We are optimistic that come next year, we will improve on this competition to make it more acceptable and better embraced by all the lovers of the game of football in the state.
“But for now, we are grateful to the Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi for his full support and we congratulate all the heroes because they have started well. From the first day we got the approval from the governor. We know we are going to be successful, but despite that, there is always a financial limitation to everything because all needs cannot be met.
“At the moment, the Ekiti Football Association is presently running a football camp at the Crown Polytechnic at Odo Ekiti every Saturday, where a lot of young people interested in football are put to test, trained and blended before fixing them up for league matches to be able to bring the best out of them”, Lanlege concluded.
Similarly, the Member of House of Representative, representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency, Hon. Sesan Fatoba, whose football team came second in the female category, expressed his satisfaction on the success of the competition.
He praised the good initiative of Governor Kayode Fayemi for his laudable achievements in the area of Youth and Sports Development of the State.
“We at the National Assembly are committed towards ensuring that we sustain this type of programme that helps to put smiles on the faces of our people from time to time. We will ensure that this type of competition is taken up with the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Youth and Sports which is Hon. Yemi Adaramodu, one of us from this State.
“We will ensure that those youths in the state who have interests in sports development through football are brought together once again come next year for a repeat of this very successful competition rounded up today. We will ensure the event is better organised and better supported,” he submitted.
In his reaction, Hon. Peter Owolabi, representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1, expressed his satisfaction with the rate of sports development in the State. He assured that next year’s event will be better planned.
He commended the organisers of the competition for being able to assemble both the National and International talents in Ekiti State for the event.
In the male category, Awards of Most Valuable Player and Highest Goals Scorer were given to Dotun Aladejana and Damilola Adeyeye while Best Goalkeeper Award was given to Azeez Tijani.
In the female category, the Most Valuable Player and Highest Goal Scorer Awards were given to Aminat Folorunso and Ayodele Toyin while Agana Faith won the Best Goalkeeper Award.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran, Ekiti State
