27th September, 2013
Ekiti State Governor, John Kayode Fayemi, has been commended for the support he gave to the 2013 Ekiti Governor’s Cup, the final which was played last weekend at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti.
Ise Orun local government football team won the trophy after defeating Oye local government in a grudge final that ended 1-0. At least 117 wards across the 16 councils that make up the state took part in the grassroots soccer tournament. Governor Fayemi, who was physically present at the final ceremony, played the first kick before the finalists took to the pitch.
Chairman of Ekiti State Football Association, Dr. Isaac Ayodele expressing delight at the gesture of the governor to support the tourney, saying “our governor has touched many lives, built roads, engaged in social welfare and pursued rigorously an eight-point agenda of governance, infrastructure, agriculture, education, health care, industrial development, tourism and employment generation.”
Ayodele said that the passion the governor has for the welfare of the youths of the state motivated him to sponsor the competition.
“The governor believes that lives of these youths can be changed through football,” he said. He commended Governor Fayemi for his support for the youths of the state, saying that the governor has continued to demonstrate his love for the youths as leaders of tomorrow with his encouragement and support for programmes of the Ekiti State FA.
He stated that with the success the 2013 Governor’s Cup, the board of the state FA will commence preparations for the 2014 edition, which he promised will be bigger and better.
“I must sincerely thank our governor for his leadership and support for the Governor’s Cup. He has shown times without number that he is a sport loving governor that genuinely loves the youths of the state with his backing of many different youths programmes,” Ayodele said.
Chairman of Osun State Football Association, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, who watched the final also, commended the governor for his supporting and promoting healthy competition among the youths of the state, adding that such championship like the Governor’s Cup will go a long way in the discovery of next generation of national team players.
During the final ceremony of the 2013 Governor’s Cup, some past leaders of the round leather game in Ekiti State were honoured with awards of excellence by the state FA. They are Chief Ayo Agbebi, first chairman of Ekiti State Football Association, Chief Idowu Aderibigbe who was among the first generation of Ekiti Bombers FC and Chief Isaac Fatimehin, captain of Ekiti Bombers FC.