- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Concerned administrators and sports lovers in Ekiti State, has appealed to well-meaning philanthropist indigenes of the state, home and diaspora to key into sports development by complementing government’s efforts in the sports sector.
They gave this charge during an exclusive interview with TopNews at the popular Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Expressing delight at the performances of Ekiti United Football Club in some of the outings in NNL against their counterparts this season, the Chairman of Football Association in the state, Chief Oluwole Oloworemo commended the officials of the team for the good tactics injected into the club so far.
The FA Chairman also commended the Ekiti State House of Assembly for speedy passage of the bill for the establishment of the Ekiti Sports Commission to ensure that sports gets adequate attention its deserves and also serves as a springboard for empowerment and not as a leisure only.
While appreciating Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s giant strides at taken sporting activities to next level, Aare Oloworemo restated his readiness to always continue to give maximum support to Ekiti United FC, Ekiti Queen FC and make it a reorganized brand in sports and an instrument to empower Ekiti boys and girls economically and socially.
He called on the well-meaning indigenes of Ekiti people home and abroad to invest meaningfully into sports sector, noting that government can not do it alone.
The FA boss advised the leadership of Ekiti United FC to brace up in their performances ahead as the NLL season progressing.
Also speaking, the first elected FA Chairman in Ekiti State, Chief Taiwo Odebunmi lauded one of Ekiti son called “Fele” who donated some numbers of brand-new quality leader balls that can stand text of time to the Ekiti United FC as part of his contributions to the development of sports in Ekiti.
He observed that the performance of Ekiti United FC has not that bad, but need to get improve in the remaining outings ahead of the season.
Odebunmi a former Executive Committee Member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said, “What Fele has done today is very amazing. His contributions is a good example for all and sundries to emulate by giving back to the society who raised them.”
The one time chairman of Chairmen in the Southwest FA urged players, coaches, administrators and other officials of the Club to always work together in synergy as a team in order to realize the state government’s ambition of making it a number one male football club in the country.
Odebunmi while commending the vision and determination of the State governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji to accord priority to Sports Development noted that the Sports Commission would bring about desired growth in the Sports sector.
On his part in a chat with TopNews Crew, the head coach of Ekiti United FC, Mr Kehind Anjorin while thanking governor Biodun Oyebanji his wife, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji for their supports, he assured fans, football lovers and other stakeholders across the state that better days are ahead of the team.
His words: “We are going to Lagos to pick points. Our subsequent matches will be better and superb than what we witnessed today,” he concluded.
It would be recalled that Ekiti United FC in a dramatic encounter on Sunday evening thrashed their counterpart from Ogun State, the Abeokuta Stormers SC 3-2 in a keenly contested tie at the in a match held at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti.
The clash which lived up to expectation as both sides made their intentions known in the early exchanges but, it was the home side who went ahead.
The drama started when Kehinde Olajuyin converted from the spot in the 15th minute of the match, when a goal bound ball was intercepted by Abeokuta Stormers and the centre referee wasted no time in awarding a penalty-kick.
The visitors came alive after conceeding in the 15th minute but efforts to get an equalizer proved abortive has the home side held their nerves to go into the interval with a goal advantage.
Six minutes into the interval, Abeokuta Stormers levelled the scoreline when Salifu Haruna nodded home from a corner-kick sending the visiting bench into wide jubilation.
Both sides began to size each other up with attempts on goal, but it was the home side who took their chances when Wadulu Ofoni benefited for a defensive mishap from Stormers to slot home calmly inside the box in the 66 minutes.
Just within the space of 30minutes, Abeokuta Stormers restored parity from a set piece well connected by Salifu Haruna to head home for 2-2.
The contest took another dimension as both sides intensified their search for the winner with several missed chances with Ekiti United goalkeeper, Temitope Bankole making series of glorious saves to deny Stormers racing into the lead.
As both sides surged forward for the winner, it was Ekiti United who got better of the two sides in the 75th minute when Wadulu Ofoni connected a well tailored pass from the right side of attack to head home what was eventually the winner.
But there was a last minute drama of the evening in the 87th minute when Ekiti United’s Wadulu Ofoni was denied what would have been the 4th goal from the penalty spot by Stormers goalkeeper, Okechukwu Johnson after Kehinde Olajuyin was brought down in the box.
As coach Kehinde Anjorin’s led side will travel to Onikan Stadium; Lagos on Friday to keep a date with 1472 on matchday 4, we wish the team all the best!
