It was two days of goals, fun, excitement, youth football potentials under the front burner, raw talents unfolding and budding stars rolling out one by the dozen, as Ije Ododo Junior Grammar School came alive with a secondary schools’ football competition in honour of the community’s new royal father, Chief Abu Jelili Ayinde Ododo.
What became known as Baale of Ije Ododo Coronation Cup had always shown early signs of turning out to be a success, as Pison Divine Royals Foundation teamed up once again with Nigerian Grassroots Football Federation (NGFF) to rehash another rendition of talent hunting.
This time out, it was the rustic ancient kingdom on the outskirts of Ijegun-Isheri in Lagos State, where a youth football lover and club owner, Chief Abu Jelili Ododo had been coroneted as the kingdom’s new Baale on February 4, and the NGFF crew felt he deserved a befitting football contest as part of his historic recognition.
NGFF secretary-general, Mr Oscar Ezinwa Emmanuel (aka TM), who is also president/founder of Pison Divine Royals Promotions, rolled out the stops for another reel of spectacular kid soccer thrills and a former teacher in the area, Sunday Ayodele Adebayo joined him as an event assistant.
Saturday, February 6 then marked the first day of action in the epoch-making competition, which featured four schools out of a dozen that had been approached to play, and those who stayed away, including Young Tigers FC of Ikotun that had been billed to play a ceremonial match the following day, ended up ruing their reluctance to be part of the spree.
A case of many are called few are chosen, or few turn up, was enacted, as Cherished Child Private School, Fun World School, Prevailers Comprehensive College and Will-B Excellence Secondary School turned up for the historic competition, which Ezinwa Emmanuel declared had set the stage for a bigger contest among students in the Ikotun, Isheri, Ijegun, Igando, Ijagamo, Idimu, Egbe and Ejigbo axis.
That was the case, considering that the secretary of Alimosho chapter of Nigerian Association of Proprietors of Private Secondary Schools (NAPPSS), Elder William Folorunsho Olaoye, who is also the owner of Will-B Excellence Secondary School, first mooted the idea of a competition for students within the territory, then turned up to witness Sunday’s finally live.
It was his suggestion during a chance meeting with ‘Mr Oscar’ that paved the way for what then happened last weekend, with Baale Ododo turning out to be a ready sponsor that never shied away from putting his money where his mouth and heart is.
At the end of it all, Will-B School stole the show, as they romped back from their opening day 1-0 loss to Fun World to snatch an overwhelming 5-2 victory over the same team in Sunday’s final, which was preceded by two ceremonial matches.
The days’ first ceremonial match was between products of the Baale’s former club, Abu Zico FC of Ije Ododo, who played among themselves with a split into two separated squads, after which a selection of some of the community’s best players took on Ije Ododo Senior Grammar School.
It was another golden opportunity for the sons of the soil’ to exhibit their soccer prowess in front of a teeming crowd, specially as the host institution, Ije Ododo Junior Grammar School, won two matches the day before against a combined outfit of senior and junior students from Will-B Excellence Secondary School, Ikotun.
Indeed, goals by Victor Adeshola, Femi Adeshola, Muiz Olaewaju, Damola Bamibgoye and an own goal by eventual highest goals scorer of the competition, Emmanuel Ebube put the boys of Elder Olaoye on course for victory against the side that beat them in their opening group match the day earlier.
However, poor goalkeeping by Samuel Akinnola for the students from Adejonwo Street almost spelt doom for them, as the tall shot-stopper failed to make the best of his height against high balls from Harmony Udeh and Emmanuel Ebube, who twice equalized in quick succession for Fun World, whose lanky vice-principal, Tosin Ashaolu was also live at the venue.
Sadly, Ashaolu’s squad soon fell apart, as fatigue from three matches in two days appeared to hit them hard, such that they gave away a penalty that was converted by Damola Bamigboye, before the Adeshola brothers – Femi and Victor – both struck delectable goals, after which the cake’s icing in a rather unexpected 5-2 win was provided by a late finish from Muiz Olarewaju.
That set the stage for celebrations led by Elder Olaoye, with his wife and proprietress of Will-B Nursery/Primary School also present to lend support to the squad, whose morale was boosted further by the presence of their principal, Mr Gboyega Tosin Adeuyi, who gave the day’s opening prayer.
Before all that, though, the new Baale put aside some minutes of busy duty at the palace down the road to watch some of the action in a ceremonial game among his former ‘boys’ from his days as sponsor/team manager (TM) of Abu Zico, as several of the club’s products trooped out to honour their mentor, who nurtured many of them from teenage innocence to adulthood.
The game ended in a 1-0 win for Team A against Team B of Abu Zico Products, who insisted on playing among themselves rather than take on any invited team, as they preferred enjoying the fun and flow together for old times’ sake.
They ended up receiving royal blessings from the new Baale, as Chief Abu Jelili Ayinde Ododo repeatedly shook his staff and fathers of office over the lads he once hobnobbed with and led closely across several venues of youth club matches with gusto and passion for over ten years.
Baale Ododo was left grinning from ear-to-ear, as players on both sides of the Abu Zico Products, including some that did not even play the match, trooped en mass to prostrate and pay homage to him on the sidelines right after their ceremonial game.
Another ceremonial game before the grand finale saw Ije Ododo Selected beat Ije Ododo Senior Grammar School 2-0, in a match that drew lavish applause from the partisan crowd of students from both the primary and junior school sections at the match venue.
Although the new Baale had to take his leave to attend to pressing issues at the palace, his royal presence remained behind with his brother, Honourable Kabiru Ododo, who is now a top shot at the local council headquarters of Iba Town, stepping in to conduct all remaining ceremonial roles.
However, before the Baale’s departure, the competition’s director of organization, Oscar Ezinwa Emmanuel, in his dual role as secretary-general of Nigerian Grassroots Football Federation (NGFF) and president/founder of Divine Royals Sports Promotion, delivered a highly emotional and piercing welcome address, in which he took the audience back in time and to the future.
Ezinwa Emmanuel stated in part: “I am happy to be here present giving an address to welcome everyone to this match venue, where we are honouring a man who was called ‘TM’ by his boys during the time he sponsored them in Abu Zico FC.
“Just like him, my boys also call me ‘TM,’ which simply means team manager, and I am proud to share that appellation with a man who never shied away from putting his money where his heart is and I am sure he is happy to see that those boys of yesterday are now men today.
“One of his biggest products, Jimoh Azeez played in the Italian Serie A, and another of his wards, Kunle Bajowa is also currently based in Italy. Also, other players from Abu Zico that are abroad as I speak include Skippo, Femi Akinsanya in Russia, Biodun Olayanju in Ukraine, Ahmed Tijani (Kanu) in Egypt and Wasiu Afolabi (Weseh) in France.
“The list of his products also includes Jide ‘Jardel’ Ogunfeyitimi, who previously played for My People FC in the Nigerian National League, Babatunde Olayiwola (Labeshi), Femi Olayanju, and several others too numerous to mention.
“This shows that for those of us that are organizing this competition in honour of Baale, knowing him did not just start yesterday. We have known him for over 18 years and the first big event we invited him for was at the year 2000 Annual National Grassroots Sports Awards, which we held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.
“He won the award for Youth Developer of the Year, while his boy, Kunle Bajowa was the revelation of the year, and they both went on to justify those awards with sterling efforts in various roles and aspects of youth football, with great results following.
“I still have found memories of how I led the delegation that took Wasiu and Labeshi to Portugal for a competition in 2011 and both of them were successful. Time will not allow me to recount all those fond memories. However, I cannot end this speech without making an appeal to our Royal Father.
“This appeal is not a selfish one, but one that wants more development for this community. My wish and desire is to see Ije Ododo Kingdom have its own recreation centre or mini-stadium, where competitions like this can hold with ease. We should not always have to go around begging and looking for venues to host youth sports initiatives like this.
“That is why I want to end with this plea to Baale Ododo to please look into how he can mobilize and galvanise the establishment of what will become known as Ije Ododo Recreation Centre. Thank you, sir, for this opportunity. I pray that your reign shall be peaceful and progressive of Ije Ododo. Long reign Baale Ododo.”
ALL THE RESULTS AND GOALS SCORERS
Cherished Child School 1 (Usman Lateef penalty) vs Prevailer Comprehensive College 0
Will-B Excellence Secondary School 0 vs Fun World Private School 1 (Harmony Udeh)
*Ije Ododo Junior Grammar School 2 (Lamidi Farouk, Chimobi Osinachi) vs Will-B Combined 0
Will-B Excellence Secondary School 2 (Muiz Olarewaju, Victor Adeshola) vs Cherished Child 0
Fun World Private School 2 (Emmanuel Ebube 2) vs Prevailer Comprehensive 0 (Franklyn Ugbah)
*Will-B Com 0 vs Ije Ododo Jnr 4 (Tolu Olaoye og, Farouk Lamidi, Olumide Adewuyi, Tossi Kossi)
FINAL: Fun World (Harmony Udeh, Emmanuel Ebube) 2 vs Will-B Excellence Secondary School (Emmanuel Ebube og, Damola Bamigboye p, Victor Adeshola, Femi Adeshola, Muiz Olarewaju) 5
SQUADS: Fun World – Oyeyemi Damilola (GK), Abioye Muiz, Salami Ibraheem, Lateef Usman, Musa Yusuf, Udeh Harmony, Emmanuel Ebube, Folami Dayo (capt); subs – Oyekunlaje Caleb, Chukwudi Collins, Lasisi Hameed, Fatai Abisoye, Alabi Mujeeb, Oyeyipo Lanre, Isau Sulaiman.
Will-B: Akinnola Samuel (GK), Aribatie Daniel (capt), Adeshola Victor, Muiz Olarewaju, Femi Adeshola, Chibuzor Chinedu, Ibrahim Ayeni, David Adegbemi; subs – Rabiu Ayomide, Toluwani Olaoye, Franklyn Ojieh, Philip Favour, Awal Shuaib, Kingsley Oladoke.
Coronation Cup All-Stars Best 8 Players
GK – Oyeyemi Damilola – Fun World Private School
DF – Muiz Olarewaju – Will-B Excellence Secondary School
DF – Lateef Usman – Cherished Child Private School
DF – Isau Sulaiman – Cherished Child Private School
MD – Franklin Ugbah – Prevailer Comprehensive College
MD – Harmony Udeh – Fun World Private School
AT – Victor Adeshola – Will-B Excellence Secondary School
AT – Emmanuel Ebube – Fun World Private School
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