Rafiu Ladipo Gives Credit To Ambassador Edward Olutoke For Above-50 Games, As Competition Expands To Six Events

Renowned football supporter and boxing promoter, Alhaji (Dr) Rafiu Ladipo has showered encomiums on Ambassador Edward Olutoke for coming up with the idea of a sports competition for men aged 50 and above.

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The competition debuted last year with many middle-aged men engaging in football matches, but Ladipo said it will expand this year into six sporting events.

While hailing the enthusiasm of Ambassador Olutoke, whom he said spent over N30 million in sponsoring last year’s competition, Rafiu Ladipo predicted that it will be better this year.

He added, “It was a good thing that the innovation came last year and we had a very wonderful event. There was a man who actually financed the programme.

“His name is Ambassador Edward Olutoke. He said we had to organise how people above 50 years can still continue to play football and equally make money.

“It’s not just about playing football. It’s also about introducing them to programmes that will make them become millionaires.

“The general belief is that anybody that is above 50, if he has not got his own house or a car, is not doing the right thing. The belief is that anybody above 50 must own a house and a car.

“Now, on our part, we add that such a person must also keep fit doing football. When you play football, not necessarily 90 minutes or 120 minutes, you keep fit.”

Ladipo went further by explaining what this year’s edition of the above 50s competition will entail.

“As it is, the man spent last year over N30 million for that programme. Maybe I only added a little, but he is the mind behind it.

“He even came up with the idea before contacting me. This time around, though, we are not just doing football alone.

“There will be a total of five or six games involved. That’s why we’ve called it mini-Olympics.

“There will be boxing, table tennis, ayo olopon, draught and football. We’ve also increased the prize money from N8 million last year to N10 million this year,” Ladipo expatiated.