By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Ahead of the kickoff of the second edition of the Ekiti Obas Cup, some sports loving royal fathers have been nominated as Pillars of Support (PoS) for the annual Youth Soccer Championship.
The royal fathers named Pillars of Support include the chairman Ekiti Obas Council, HRM Oba Gabriel Adejuwon (Onisan of Isan-Ekiti), the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, HRM Oba (Dr) Rufus Adejugbe, Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, HRM Oba Adeola Ajakaiye, Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, HRM Oba Adejimi Adu, Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti, HRM Oba (Dr) Olu Adeyemi.
Other royal fathers are Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, HRM Oba Joseph Adewole, Alaaye of Oke Ayedun-Ekiti, HRM Oba Olufemi Aribisala and Oloye of Oy-Ekiti, HRM Oba Micheal Ademolaju, Owatapa of Itapa-Ekiti, HRM Oba David Makanjuola and Apeju of Ilupeju, HRM Oba David Akingbade.
The organizers of the Ekiti Obas Cup revealed to TopNewsng that the step was taken in appreciation of the tremendous support that the royal fathers gave towards ensuring the success of the first edition of the competition as well as efforts at making subsequent editions bigger and better while the gesture was also expected to spur the royal fathers to attract partnership through prominent sons and daughters of their various communities as well as their friends from within the country and overseas for the Ekiti Obas Cup.
In the meantime, the organizers of the youth competition which debuted in 2022 have begun moves to reach out to prospective partners including the Sports loving governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, members of the National Assembly and Ekiti indigenes in the Diaspora.
The Under-18 Youth Soccer Championship is expected to kickoff on Saturday June 10 while the final is expected to hold on Tuesday June 27.
Owatapa FC won the the first edition in 2022 after beating Apeju FC on penalties at the final decided at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
