…..As Ambassadors Installs New President
DEBO ADEOYE,IBADAN
The Curtain was drawn Sunday on the Veterans Football Championship organised by the Ibadan Soccer Ambassadors in conjunction with the Ibadan Football Association at the OLUBADAN STADIUM, IBADAN.
UI All Stars emerged Winners of the maiden Championship after defeating Ibadan City All Stars (ICAS) by a lone.
The only goal of the contest was scored towards the end of the first half of the match by ALLEN EDUVEHRE.
The third place prize went to Wesley All Stars after they walked over Bodija Housing All Stars, who didn’t turn up.
COACH SANUSI ADENIYI of Wesley All Stars won the Best Behaved Coach, NURUDEEN FIJABI of Ibadan Soccer Ambassadors Team A won the Most Valuable Player and OMOKHABI EMMANUEL of UI ALL STARS won the Highest Goal Scorer.
The occasion also witnessed the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the IBADAN SOCCER AMBASSADORS where ALHAJI WASIU RUFAI was installed as the new President of the club.
To add more glamour to the programme, Ibadan Soccer Ambassadors also presented Special Awards to some individuals for their contributions to the progress of the club.
The special awards went to AJALA MUKAILA OLUWASEYI and BARRISTER OLUWAROTIMI TAJUDEEN ALLI, who bagged the Man of The Year Award.
In his acceptance speech, the new President promised to build on the achievements of the immediate past president, BARRISTER TAJUDEEN ALLI, who he described as his brother, leader and role model.
“Let me first appreciate my colleagues, who considered me worthy of leading this great club. My special thanks goes to the outgoing president, Barrister Alli, for his unmatched love for me.
“ In fact, he remains my big brother, leader, mentor and role model; I will forever be grateful to him, he’s a great achiever of no equal,” RUFAI stated
“I will consolidate on the achievements of the immediate past president, his development plans is enviable and must be built on.
“We shall make good contribution to the renovation and reconstruction of the Olubadan Stadium and shall make IFA League the largest. The Seven- A Side Veterans Championship that we started this year shall be maintained.
“We have in our plans to institute a health insurance scheme for all the veterans we have around. We shall work towards participating in high profile veterans football programmes abroad. We shall bring back to the club our past leaders and members, all ex-professional footballers.
“First we shall meet with Segun Odegbami, Mutiu Adepoju, Ike Shorumu and others, our meeting with them shall be based on their return to the club and facilitate others return as well.
“We shall visit and assist the family of our late members including families of late Rashidi Yekini, Nuru and others,” he added.
In his speech, the immediate past president promised to continue to offer adequate support both morally and financially to the new executive of the club.
“I have no choice, the new President is my brother and he won’t fail. I will give my all to support him and his executive. He has started well with this laudable projects, the 7 a side and special award,” BARRISTER ALLI emphasised.
ALLI also discussed the development his administration as the Chairman of Ibadan Football Association (IFA) recorded within the shortest time spent in office.
” We are turning Olubadan Stadium around for good. As you can see, the field is now covered with natural grass, we are making provision for continuous wetting. Already, we have spent over four million naira on the renovation of hostel at Olubadan Stadium.
The last floor of the hostel has changed, with good toilet facilities, tiles everywhere and good bedding materials to encourage teams from outside the state to lodge in ahead of matches,” ALLI stated.
