Winners Emerge At KAAF Football Tourney, As Ijebu-North Defend Male Title

Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu representing the trophy and dummy cheque 9f N1Million to the winner of the Male U-18 football

ABEOKUTA - Last year's Champion of Sir Kessington Adebutu Adebukola Foundation (KAAF) U-18 Male football Championship, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State defended its trophy in style after whipping Imeko-Afon Local Government side 4-0.

The local government became the first team to successfully defend the Ogun State Football Association/Sir Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF) under-18 Male Championship.

The highly enterprising Ijebu-North boys completely dominated their opponents in a 2020 edition final of the tournament played at the lush green pitch of the Gateway International Stadium in Sagamu. 

The team scored two goals in each half of the encounter, to retain the title its won in the 2019 edition of the competition.

Obafemi-Owode Local Government had earlier won the tournament's third place match against Remo North Local Government 5-4 via penalties.

In female Under-17 category of the Championship, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government completely overwhelmed their Remo North counterpart 5-0 in a final played at the same venue, to lift the fourth edition of the competition.

The Ado-Odo/Ota girls proved too hot for their opponents, particularly the trio of Similoluwa Okesiji, Sofiat Idris and Ikimot Adewale who exhibited exceptional qualities in the match.

It was another sweet moment for Ijebu North LGA whose girls also won the tournament's third place match, thrashing Ewekoro 5-0.

Financier of the competition, Sir Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu was represented by son, Honourable Ladipupo Adebutu who lauded the initiative of his father, saying the tournament in the past seven editions has been  consistent in engaging the youths and keeping them away from anti-socia vices.

He added that the competition has continued to discover hidden talents in Nigeria and Ogun State in particular, urging other wealthy individuals to emulate the gesture of the sponsor by compliment the effort of the State Football Association in the development of the game.

The State Football Association led by Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi decorated some of football technocrats with awards in appreciation of their contributions to the game.

The awardees included President of Nigeria Football Federation NFF, Mr.Amaju Melvin Pinnick, First Vice-President of the federation and South West Coordinator, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, Balogun  of Ode-Remo, Aare(Dr.) Kola Oyefeso, Secretary to the State Government, Mr.Tokubo Talabi, Youth and Sports Commissioner, Dr. Oluwadamilare Kehinde, his predecessor, Bukola Olopade, Women Affairs' Comnissioner, Mrs Funmi Efuwape and Zamfara State Football Association's Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, Justice Dehinde Shoremi, a retired judge of Court of Appeal as well as Alhaja Mujidat Balogun and ex-Olympian, Mrs Falilat Ogunkoya Omotayo amongst others.

 

The final attracted dignitaries including the Akarigbo of Remo-land, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, Alaperu of Iperu-Remo ,Oba Idowu Basibo amongst others top monarchs in the state.