…..To collaborate with NFF, YSFON on sports development
It was a galore of ecstacy as Honourable Otu Boys won the second edition of Honourable Marooph Bintinlaye Soccer Competition on Monday.
The grand finale of the competition took place in Offa Township Stadium, Offa, Kwara State.
Honourable Otu Boys clinched victory with 5 – 4 in penalty shootout against Crown Champions of Ikirun.
All Stars FC of Ikirun won the third place in the competition that had a total number of 32 teams, drawn from Kwara, Osun, Oyo and Lagos State.
According to the founder of the football competition, Honourable Marooph Bukoye Bintinlaye, the ideation of the tournament was conceived out of his love for the youths in accordance with the urge to contribute token towards development of sports at the grassroots where stars are first discovered and polished before they shine at the regional, national & global stages.
“When the idea of this tournament was conceived 2 years ago, we were very intentional about what to do and how to go about it. Adequate attention was given to planning and due consideration for execution which was why the event turned out to become the biggest sporting event in the whole of Kwara State today.
“There’s no surprise that it had since been tagged “Offa Premier League” by some lover of Sports while other football lovers now call it “Kwara Champions League”.
“Whatever you choose to address it by, “The Honorable Bukoye Marooph Bintinlaiye football Tournament” has become a household name which has come to stay. We are evolving from the initial intention to discover & empower skilled footballers and now expanding towards changing the narratives and dynamics of sporting activities in the State of Harmony for a start and eventually the Nigerian State at large,” Honourable Bintinlaye said.
In his address, Alhaji Rafiu Alabi Abayomi, President of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) there will be a selection of 18 players from the competition who will be given a chance to play in the Nigeria football league.
“We will select 18 players from this competition who will face Shooting Stars FC from Ibadan, Oyo State in a friendly match. Their spirit of sportsmanship on the pitch shall be analyzed and there would be a selection of those who will join the Shooting Stars in the Nigeria professional football league.
“Also, Under 17 players in this competition shall be screened for the Nigeria league.”
Earlier in his address, Honourable Marooph Bintinlaye in collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), vowed organize a 3 Days workshop for all the coaches whose team participated in the competition.
Bintinlaye subsequently appreciated the coordinators and officiating team whose painstaking effort made the event another successful endeavor, “I also appreciate our vendors & again, the ever graceful fans of football and my very own supporters who stops at nothing in following us on this journey of discoveries & elevations.”
Taofeeq Gotie of All Stars Ikirun won Highest Goal Scorer; Moshood Taofik won Best Player in the competition; Unique FC Agara won Most Disciplined Team; Oladunmoye Asimiyu of Ootu Boys won the Best Coach of the competition; Ademola Ayofe Adeoye, alias ‘Mr. Confirm’ won 2023 Best Sports Journalist; Abdullahi Adeboye of Crown Champions, Ikirun won Best Goal Keeper of the competition (recall that Mr. Abdullahi had won Man of The Match 7 times); and many others.
Dignitaries from all walks of life are as follows:
The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Ajagungbade l, Esuwoye II was duly represented by Chief Musbau Olaniyi, the Aare Bobajiroro of Offa.
On behalf of Alhaji Ibrahim Tajudeen Ajibola Adeta, the chairman of Global Legend were Alhaji Isiaka Aberi, Alhaji Mufutau Jaji, Engineer Amsat Sulaiman, Alhaji Abdulrahman, Alhaji Jaji Moshood, Engineer Ridwan Cook and Engineer Bolaji.
Engineer Kale Kawu Dan Iya’n Geri of Ilorin was represented by Alhaji Toyin Abubakar, Tunde Abubakar and Alhaji Sulaiman Alarape and Mr. Bukoye Mumini
Alhaji Nasir Ayilara was represented by Alhaji Kayode Adkay.
Chief Akinrogun of Offa, Barrister Segun Olawoyin
Alhaji Toyin Abubakar Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Toyin Investment Limited who was represented by Alhaji Abdulazeez Alasini and Khalifa Bintinlaye, Alhaji Mudashir Sarafadeen.
Prince Abdulwaheed Olanipekun, former Chairman of Offa local government area.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ajeigbe and Alhaji Opeloyeru Maruf, Alhaji Nurudeen Olorukoba.
Alhaji Rafiu Alabi Abayomi, President of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON); Miss Abimbola Adesokan; Alhaji Najeem Olokuta and Moshood Giwa.
Engineer Kola Shittu, former PDP Chairman of Kwara State; Comrade Bisi Fakayode, PDP Kwara South Senatorial Chairman; Senator Rafiu Ibrahim was represented by Muyideen Alalade, Kwara State former commissioner for housing; Alhaja Taibat Ahmed, former Kwara State commissioner for women affairs; Alhaja Saidat Akanbi, assistant secretary of Kwara PDP; Alhaja Agunbiade Mariam; Honourable Bukola Abel, former Council Chairman of Ekiti local government area of Kwara state.
Chief (Mrs) Bolaji Iyabo Ibiyeye-Adisa, Iyalode of Offa and PDP candidate for Eesa/Shawo/Igboidun Constituency in Kwara State House of Assembly; Honourable Hassan Oyeyemi Oyeleke, former Chairman of Kwara State and PDP candidate for Offa/Oyun/Ifelodun Constituency in Federal House of Representatives; Honourable Abdulwaheed JK Gbenga Yusuf, Honourable member for Essa/Shawo/Igboidun Constituency; Comrade Salaudeen Adeyemi Lukman, PDP Ojomu/Balogun Constituency in Ọffà.
