Ekiti State U13 and U16 teams on Saturday, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Oyo State lost to their counterparts, the Shooting Stars Sports club academy teams in a doubleheader friendly matches, in one of the series of tune-up games organized by Ekiti FA.
In the first game, the U16 team known as Ekiti Bees lost 1-3 to the 3SC Feeders side. The highly competitive game was thoroughly exciting and was equally, a testimony that the developmental football chain is being adequately lubricated.
The second fixture between the U13 teams of Ekiti and 3SC, also had the appreciable crowd cheering endlessly as the lads displayed innate techniques and tactical knowledge of the game. Expectedly, Ekiti Mosquitoes lost 0-2 to their better-exposed opponents.
Speaking with journalists after the matches, Ekiti FA Chairman, Bayo Olanlege, expressed satisfaction with the performances of the state’s youth teams. Adding that he is unfazed in view of the facts that the majority of the lads were travelling out Ekiti state for the first time in their lives.
Olanlege went on to restate the determination of his board to build a refreshing and sustainable football legacy for the state.
” I tell you, we are not pained by those loses. It’s been a wonderful experience for these lads who haven’t been out of this state for such adventure in their lives.
” For now, the players have to go back to their various clubs and training centres, while we would encourage our technical committee to continue scouting for more quality additions as there would be elimination by substitution. We are modelling the state teams after the national teams of Nigeria.
The amiable FA boss lamented that funding has been a major hindrance to the FA and a clog in its wheels of progress. He admitted that dearth of sponsors is another problem faced by the FA. He, however, disclosed that plans are in place to make the FA brand attractive to sponsors.
” We are also working on stepping up our branding of the FA and its products to attract sponsorship from well-meaning Ekiti sons and daughters. Soon our team jerseys would be launched and hopefully, we shall have a source to generate more revenue from sales of the jerseys and other merchandise,” Olanlege enthused confidently.
