A 13 man executive of the Ekiti State Football Coaches Association was on Saturday sworn in by the Nigeria Football Coaches Association.
The swearing in presided over by the Assistant Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association , Coach Mansur Abdullah from the FCT, Abuja who represented the President who is also the Nigeria’s Flying Eagles coach, Ladan Bosso took place at the VIP stand of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti amidst calm and peaceful atmosphere.
Coach Abdullah who had earlier coordinated Ondo and Lagos states Football Coaches Associstion elections said the 15 out of the 16 Local Goverment areas that were present at the election was more than enough to form a quorum, hence the coast was clear for it to be held as scheduled.
Being the vice president of the Nigeria Para-soccer Association of Nigeria, coach Abdullah while calling for unity among football coaches in Ekiti state said the Ekiti State Football Coaches Association election shall stand with the attendance of major national and Zonal stakeholders as well as state government representative.
In compliance with statute of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association and FIFA statute, the former Executive led by Coach Lanre Ajayi was dissolved following the resolution of the congress.
Shortly afterwards, all the candidates vying for different positions were invited to step forward as their names and Local Government areas were called one after the other.
Without any opposition not contestant for any of the positions, Barrister Samson Ayodeji Aina presided over the oath taking as all candidates were elected unopposed.
Also in attendance was the South West Zonal Secretary of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association ,coach Ife Okunola and coach Akin Obajimi from the Oyo state Football Coaches Association who both urged members of the new executive of the Ekiti State Football Coaches Association to be proactive and avoid all forms of internal wrangling and external interference that could divide them .
On behalf of the Nigeria Football Coaches Assocation, the new Ekiti state Exco was congratulated for conducting one of the most peaceful and seamless election in the country.
The National officers also applauded the elders in the state for standing by the coaches association urging them not to relent.
In his acceptance speech, the chairman of the Ekiti State Football Coaches Association , coach Lanre Ajayi from Ekiti East Local Government who was returned for a second term of 4 years in office said he was humbled at the level of support from the coaches across the state especially the elders with a promise not to let them down.
He commended the Ekiti State governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji for his passion and determination towards respositioning sports in the state urging him to keep the fire burning .
The UK based coach said the state sports circle would benefit immensely from the governor’s upgrading of the Ekiti State Sports Council to a Sports Commission.
The Director of Facilities, Ekiti state Sports Council, Mr BS Idowu who represented the General Manager , Mr Kunle Adeyemi lauded the peaceful conduct of the Football Coaches Association election urging them the new executive to mend fences with all aggrieved parties in a bid to engender more development in the football ecosystem.
Also in attendance were representative of the Football Referees Council, Mr Kehinde Adetule being the Ekiti State secretary and the chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Ekiti state, Qozeem Oladapo and immediate past SWAN chairman, Ayodeji Ogunsaki.
The occasion was spiced up with the celebration of the 73rd birthday of one of the elders in the Ekiti State Football Coaches Association , Pastor Segun Adelakun who described as an astute football stakeholder.
The birthday boy was pleasantly surprised when one of the coaches, Ademola Agbana promised to launch an under 15 Youth Soccer Championship on the name of Coach Segun Adelakun whose birthday is January 29.
The new executive of the Ekiti State Football Coaches Association comprises :
1. CHAIRMAN- AJAYI OLANREWAJU VICTOR
2. 1st VICE CHAIRMAN- MUSTAPHA BELLO
3. VICE CHAIRMAN 2- ANIFALOBA ISAAC
4. GENERAL SECRETARY- IBOSIOLA OLUWAROTIMI
5. ASSISTANT SECRETARY- REV.KEHINDE AJISAFE
6. P.R.O- DAVID EMMANUEL
7. TRAINING OFFICER- OSASONA TOPE
8.TRAINING OFFICER II, AGBANA ADEMOLA
9. TREASURER- NKECHI JOSEPH
10. FINANCIAL SECRETARY-SESAN OJO
11. AUDITOR OLALEKE OKUNOLA
12. EX OFFICIO 1- OLAGBEMI FEMI
13. EX-OFFICIO 2- AYO AGBAJE
