The Oluyemi Kayode stadium on Saturday was a beehive of sporting activities as the curtains were drawn on the M. O. B Ekiti Central Unity Cup .
The youth competition which featured male and female teams that represented various local goverment areas in Ekiti Central Senatorial District was witnessed by the deputy governor, Chief Christianah Afuye who represented governor Biodun Oyebanji , immediate past deputy governor, chief Bisi Egbeyemi, former APC state chairman, Chief Jide Awe as well as the Secretary to the store goverment, Alhaja Dr Habeebat Adubiaro and the Special Assistant to the governor on Public Utilities, Prof. Bolaji Aluko among several other top ranking goverment officials.
The Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti , Oba Adeniyi Ajakaiye led other royal fathers to the occasion.
The entertaining female final match between MOB Queens from Irepodun Ifelodun Local Government and Triple W Queens from Efon Alaaye local goverment ended in favor of the MOB Queens by 3 goals to 1.
Interestingly, the male final between Irepodun Ifelodun Local Government and Ado Local Government also ended 3 goals to 1 in favour of Irepodun Ifelodun.
The female final match was one sided as the eventual champions dominated from the blast of the whistle but the male champions came from a goal down to beat their opponents.
There were individual awards for outstanding players including an 11 year old girls named who emerged females highest goal scorer and youngest female player .
The young player who played for MOB Queens scored 8 goals to go home with #50,000 for each of the awards totalling #100,000 .
The male and female youngest players and and highest goal scorers in both categories also went home with cash prizes .
There were special rewards for two coaches namely, Femi Kumuyi from Ado LG who got a training fund and a disable coach from Ekiti West , Moshood Salawu who got an automatic wheel chair, both courtesy Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele who was the sponsor of the competition.
The male and female champions smiled home with sum of #1million each while each of the runners up went home with Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira and Five Hundred Thousand Naira went to each other second runners up.
A total of 20 players with outstanding potentials from the 5 LG areas that make up the Ekiti Central Senatorial District who were discovered in the course of the tournament will form the nucleus of the proposed MOB Football Club.
Addressing hundreds of spectators who stormed the stadium, Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly said the youth Competition was one of the ways through which he deployed to gainfully engage the youth especially those with sports potentials .
He reiterated his commitment towards empowering the youth through various initiatives including training programs with a view to making the youth diversify their energy.
He promised to also send each of the players who played for the top three teams in the male and female categories to a training program with an enpowerment package of fifty thousand Naira each.
Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele who is seeking re-election into the Senate assured the goverment and people of the state of ceaseless people oriented programs with a call on the people to accord the present Biodun Oyebanji administration all necessary support to succeed.
Senator Bamidele reiterated his commitment towards an unwavering support for the state governor and government.
He also appreciated the support of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Ekiti State Chapter, the Coaches Association the Referees Council and the State Sports Council for their efforts at ensuring a succesful and glamorous youth soccer competition.
There was also male and female marathon exhibition as some of the National athletics champions displayed the stuff they were made of to the admiration of the spectators.
Courtesy:De Gogetter
