When Osun youth traded skills for Ajara tournament

The crowd of spectators that thronged the Osogbo City Stadium on December 20 to witness the final of Ajara U-17 Football Tournament got far more than they bargained for based on the skills on display. But it only amplified the several youth competitions that have held on the ground in recent times, especially at this time of the year.

The weeklong tournament in which students of secondary schools in Osun state competed, was sponsored by an Osogbo indigene, Dr Lanre Jimoh, whose passion for youth empowerment shares affinity with that of his father, Alhaji Bayo Jimoh, a former group managing director of the Odua Investment Company.

The US-based son has through his Ajara Humanitarian Foundation emerged in recent times as a philanthropist concerned about giving improved life to youth in Osun state in capacity building through provision of computers and other work tools to them. It was a spectacle that a good number of beneficiaries of the foundation were at the stadium to witness the final match that saw Medfat Model Secondary School post a 4-2 defeat over Top Trend School in a game that had the trappings of excitement.

With both sides justifying qualification for the final, Medfat opened scoring in the 10th minute but it took only two minutes for Top Trend to level scores. Few minutes later, Medfat restored the lead through a penalty, only for Top Trend to level scores once again. Medfat proved superiority in the second half with two unassailable goals that saw them triumph ultimately.

Bone crushing incident was recorded late in the second half when the petit but hardworking goalkeeper of Top Trend, Adebayo AbduBasit, sustained a leg fracture after colliding with an on rushing Medfat striker of Medfat. The first aid applied yielded no positive result as AbdulBasit was rushed to the hospital, signifying the end of his field heroics on the day.

A side attraction was the ex-Nigeria international and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations hero, Dr. Felix Owolabi, who presented the gold plated trophy to the winning captain after regaling the youth with his exploits while in active service.

“I am impressed with the exhibition of raw talent here today and I do hope to see some of you at the top in the nearest future,” Owolabi told the excited youth at the stadium.

The former Green Eagles winger was not finished: “Whenever I am invited to an event as this whether as a guest or as a spectator, I consider it an opportunity to see how I started and got to the top of my football career. I wish to commend the sponsor and encourage him to make this an annual competition with a view to making it lead to the discovery of more hidden talents in the secondary schools.”

The sponsor said: “The Ajara Humanitarian Foundation is about total empowerment of youth to be more useful to themselves and to the society.”

His father, who was also on hand to render support, said: “I urge management of the schools to spend the cash awards to them towards further development of the players to perform better in subsequent tournaments.”

Bayo Adesina, Chairman, Organising Committee for the tournament, enjoined parents to emulate the sponsor to rescue restive youth from social vices which, according to him, are rampant in the country.

Individual prizes for the well behaved team and the most valuable player were awarded to deserving players at the event attended by dignitaries that include the former deputy speaker, Osun state House of Assembly, Mr Adegboye Akintunde; former member, Osun state House of Assembly, Mr Adeoye Adelakun; Commander, Osun state Amotekun, Comrade Amitolu Situ; and General Manager, Osun state Sports Council, Mr Rotimi Dunmoye, among others.