Kunle Adelabu
The former Ikorodu – born Super Eagles player and an ex – international, Wasiu Babatunde Ipaye, has charged football administrators in Ikorodu and at the state level, to go back to the grassroots if more talented players are to be discovered for the national team and professional trade abroad.
He regretted the dwindling development of football in lkorodu compared to the good old days when Ikorodu used to have many players in the national teams and those plying their trade in the national league and abroad, a situation he said was due to lack of football clubs playing in the national league in the state.
Ipaye was a member of the Ysfun team that traveled to the United States of America, Brazil, Mexico in Spain. He was also a member of the Junior Eagles team that traveled to Russia.
The ex – international who played his professional football for Club African in Tunis; Al – Sogara Football Club in Gabon; Kaiser Chief in South Africa; Settat Football Club in Morocco and others, and now playing All – Stars soccer, spoke with THE IMPACT at the 12th edition of the Oldies Appreciation Game & family Funfair in Igbogbo last weekend.
“Gone are the days when we had many international players in Ikorodu, but these days, it has gone down tremendously, maybe because there are no more football teams in Lagos playing in the premiership. The only team that we have before was MFM which has been relegated. That is definitely what contributed to the situation”, he said.
“Right now, we have Ikorodu City FC, which is in the Challenge Cup. Let’s hope that the team will rise in other competitions.
“We have started from the grassroots, that’s very important. We have started building from the local government level to the state and the national level”, he said while proffering way out.
Ipaye also counseled young footballers to always take advice from their seniors and coaches and be humble to attain greatness in their career.
“They should be humble and not think that they have arrived yet. They have to learn from grass to grace. They should always listen to advice from their elders because some of these boys believe that they have arrived and they don’t want to listen to their senior ones and coaches”, he said.
The ex – international commended the organisers of the Oldies Appreciation Game and called for support for the initiative to improve in the subsequent editions.
“I am really impressed. The initiative is not bad at all, and the Chairman has given assurance that the council will continue to support the organisers, and will even continue to support after leaving office”, he said.
“It’s great seeing some of my old colleagues here. They too belong to various All – Stars teams and they have been training. I believe that some of them that do not have the opportunity to play, may be due to the weather, and are not happy because they are enjoying what we are doing on the field. I believe that there would be a better game than this in the forthcoming edition.
“I expect many sponsors, both corporate and individuals, because this event can go a long and it would be a boost for us in Ikorodu. I am an Ikorodu boy and very proud of it”, he said.
