.…As participants brace up for main encounter
- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Concern stakeholders at BAO Continuity Cup event organized by Tmoore Initiative has described step as very laudable. Venue of the event was filled to the brim as major leaders in sporting sector led by the Technical Advisor on Sports Development, Dr Olusola Osetoba unanimously saluted the vision and zeal of the organizers.
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The Technical Advisor who could not hide her thoughts as she openly canvassed for her principal, urging all the youths to obtain their Voters Cards ahead of the 2026 Governorship Election in Ekiti State.
The Emure Ekiti-born Sports administrator recounted the numerous strides of the Governor in the Sports sector with an assurance that more were on the way towards ensuring unprecedented youth and sports development.
She commended the organizers of the BAO Continuity Football championship for setting a standard for others to emulate adding that the Governor was fully in support of the initiative which is youth driven and in consonance with the 6 point agenda of the BAO administration.
Dr Osetoba coined a slogan “TMOORE FOR BAO, BAO FOR TMOORE” and charged all the youth in Ekiti State to keep chanting the slogan everywhere.
Also in attendance was the Chairman, Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Youth and Sports Development, Hon Idowu Odebunmi (ID Aluta) who joined on applauding the brains behind the BAO Continuity Cup.
Hon. Odebunmi promised to ensure the Speaker of the House of Assembly and all members are fully involved and attend the final match on August 7.
Similarly, the Chairman, Ekiti State Football Association, Chief Oluwole Oloworemo said the Governor deserved to be honored with such a youth Football tournament in view of his proven passion for Sports especially football.
He congratulated the TA Sports on the new look of Oluyemi Kayode Stadium football pitch courtesy of the State government saying it will attract big tournaments to the State and also encourage grassroots football development.
Chief Oloworemo who described the Governor’s passion for Sports as second to none in the history of Ekiti State assured him of a massive support from the entire football loving people of Ekiti State in appreciation of his massive investment in Sports especially football.
There were comments from the father of the sponsor, Chief Apalara Adewumi and the Chairman, Referees Council in Ekiti State, Mr Onilearo and Chairman Sports Writers Association in Ekiti State, Qozeem Oladapo who both assured of their readiness to contribute professionally towards the success of the tournament.
The draws were coordinated by the Ekiti State Football head Coach, Kehinde Anjorin as the transparent process was witnessed and applauded by coaches and officials of the various participating teams as well as chairmen of the Local Football Councils who also got copies of the rules and regulations guiding the tournament.
The 16 Local Government teams were drawn into 8 groups as 2 teams fell in each group where only a knockout match will be played.
Winners of each preliminary match will progress to the quarter finals while the semi finalists and eventual finalists will also emerge in similar fashion.
The tournament which will begin on July 1 will be played at 7 different designated centers across the State while no team will be allowed to play at home.
According to the official fixtures released after the draws, Ekiti SouthWest will face Ekiti West in group A, while Ido-Osi will take on Ekiti East in group B just as group C will feature Emure Local Government and Ikole Local Government and Ado Local Government will slug it out with Ayekire Local Government in group D.
In group E, Ise-Orun Local Government will trade tackle with Ijero Local Government and in group F, Oye Local Government will do battle with Efon Local Government just as group G paired Ilejemeje and Irepodun ifelodun Local Government while the last group is H with Ikere Local Government and Moba Local Government.
While addressing the dignitaries, football stakeholders, team officials and journalists present, the initiator of the TMOORE for BAO Initiative, Mr Tolulope Wole-Adewumi popularly known as Tmoore said he was spurred to key into one of the key points of the Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s 6 point agenda which is Youth Empowerment having identified with transformative power of Sports at building character, fostering teamwork and promoting healthy lifestyles.
He noted that the unprecedented strides of governor Oyebanji in all facets of life including Sports were evident for all to see, hence the need to galvanize support for his re-election come 2026.
Tmoore lauded the support and helpful advice of the Technical Advisor on Sports Development and the FA chairman which he said had tremendously helped in actualizing the vision of the Tmoore Initiative For BAO.
Adewumi also said more youth oriented initiatives were in the offing, calling on the entire youths of the State to stick to Governor Biodun Oyebanji till 2030 for the betterment of the State.
