Seun AJAYI and Aminat Sulaimon (SIWES student)
After about 2 months of intense and impressive football displays, players of Leaders FC indeed lived up to the name of their team as they lifted the inaugural Banjo Super Cup tournament by defeating Agbede Lions FC in the final match by 2 goals to nil.
The final match, which was watched by a record attendance of notable dignitaries and spectators, was played at the Adamo Stadium in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria on Wednesday, September 5, 2018.
Megida FC came third in the tournament after winning the third place match..
The winning team as well as the second and third place teams received the prize money of N150,000, N100,000, and N50,000 respectively.
The tournament, which is an initiative of Hon. Adeola Banjo, the executive chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, had sixteen teams from the five wards in the council.
The teams are Incredible FC, Agbede Lions Boys FC, Adamo All Stars FC, Take Something FC, Megida FC, Athletic Boys FC, Amen FA FC, Odonla Boys FC, Agodo Stars FC, ECOMOG FC, Isiwu Stars FC, Genesis 37 Boys FC, Okeogbodo All Stars FC, Ariz Boys FC, Leaders FC and Elites FC.
Aside the massive spectators who trooped out enmasse within and outside the council, the final match also had the presence of top politicians and other personalities like Hon. Babajimi Benson, Member, Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Toyin Gafar Bolowotan, aspirant for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mayor Deen Sanwoola, Director-General, iCare Foundation, Dr Olasunkanmi Odesanya, Head of Administartion (Ikorodu North LCDA), Alhaji Lukman Shonibare, Chairman, Ikorodu Division Football Association, Mr. Odunola Olalekan, Chairman, Oduga Sports, Hon. Ajiroba Dayo Kowe, Alhaji Fayas, APC party leader, Mr. Dada Ishola, HRO (Ikorodu North LCDA), Princess Abimbola Adaramola, Supervisor, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Ikorodu North LCDA, Rasak Adedeji, Chairman, Copeland Schools, and Mr Bayo Oteju, Senior Legislative Aide to Hon.Jimi Benson.
The intense game was dominated by the champions, Leaders FC, as they pressed their youger opponents from Agbede Lions FC.The domination,however, paid off in the 16th minute when they took the lead through their central defender, Yemi Ogunbote, whose powerful shot beat Agbede Lions FC goalkeeper.
Felix Oloye added the second goal for the champions in the dying minutes of the second half to take the match beyond their much subdued opponents.
The highpoint of the match was the sending off of the Leaders FC captain, Akeem Hassan, by the no-nonsense centre referee,Kazeem Makinde, for a rough tackle on Agbede Lions FC player, Fadoyin Waris, after he had earlier received a yellow card.
The Coach of the Leaders FC also got into the referee’s black book when he was given a marching order away from the technical area to join the spectators on the sideline for a misconduct in the second half of the match.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the tournament stated that the tournament would be an annual championship that would bring people together and promote friendliness.
Speaking with THE IMPACT, a spectator, Mr. Jide Folami, said, “I am happy that event like this is happening in Ikorodu North LCDA and I believe it will encourage the youths to improve on their football talents.
He also called for the development of the Adamo stadium for better football performance and to enhance other sporting activities.
“I want to use this medium to seek for the intervention of Hon. Banjo and other leaders to help in enduring that the Adamo Stadium is developed. Its present state is really bad and I hope relevant authorities will intervene urgently”, Mr Folami appealed.
Salaudeen Kehinde of Agbede Lions FC won the most coveted individual award of the competition as he emerged the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), while Moruf Ganiu of Leaders FC claimed the golden boot after emerging the highest goal scorer. Both players received the prize money of N10,000 each for their efforts.
