Ace Sports writer Abayomi Ademetan popularly known as FutbalGalore has teamed up with Alhaji Gafar Liameed’s 36 Lion in a very short ceremony held at the club’s secretariat in Lagos.

Alhaji Gafar is a well known grassroot developer as his team has nurtured so many players from the grassroot to the top of world footballing map.

Top on the list are Junior Ajayi (Smouha), Moses Usor, Peter Olayinka and Yina Sor (Slava Prague), these are players that have excelled in Egypt and Europe respectively.

Speaking shortly after the unveiling, FutbalGalore as Mr Ademetan is widely known disclosed that the opportunity to learn plus the love for young players drew him closer to Hajji Gafar.

“I feel proud and very honored to have been identified with a man that has made men out of young boys,”

“He is one man I called father as he we all know him, he is a promoter of grassroot football.

“We have enough talents in the rural areas and we will need more people in the mould of Hajji Gafar to fish them out.”

“The first agenda for me in peace is to use my role in the media to promote Hajji Gafar and the workings around 36 Lion but first we need to see that Hajji Gafar becomes a board member of the Nigerian Football Federation tomorrow,” He concluded,

The signs are looking good with how the new leadership of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF will look like in the coming elections billed for 29th of month in Benin, Edo State.

The new board is expected to have more football technocrats on board with the latest news that Proprietor of 36 Lion Academy, Liameed Gafar, has joined the race to become one of the biggest decision makers in Nigerian football.

The popular football administrator made the announcement on Wednesday

He made his quest known on Nigeria Sports Mouthpiece, NSM, a popular sports WhatsApp platform.

“Good afternoon NSM.

I greet you all with the love of football and the grace of God.

May I officially announce to this great family that I will be contesting in the forthcoming NFF Elections as a Board Member on the platform of a club founder from Lagos State.

It’s all about the common interest of Lagos.

It’s all about improving Nigeria Football”

Being a strong stakeholder in youth football and his academy having produced some brilliant players like Peter Olayinka and Collins Sor, Gafar says he wants to strengthen the lower leagues in order to help them produce young players for the elite division.

He also promised to push for proper training of former international players in order for them to train those at the grassroots.

Soon after his announcement, he got royal endorsement from Alhaji Sani Abdullahi of the Walin Makera Babba Royal Family in Zazzau Emirate Council, Kaduna. The Royal Family’s endorsement is a huge boost to Liameed Gafar whose achievements in Youth football is known far and wide.

The U12 kids were accompanied to the arena by their parents.

Coaches took the young lads through some simple drills.

The kids were enlightened on some basic techniques in football.

At the end of a successful exercise, participants were rewarded with books and boots.

Lots of goals were scored by the children who relished the moment to showcase their talents.

“It’s all about playing and enjoying for them; then stay in school and help their parents with your household chores,” 36 Lion Proprietor told the Media shortly after the exercise.

The former Gombe United manager confirmed this to the media after the game against Ghana U20 team.

“Quadri has always been a joker, he has always come in the second half and change the game for us.

“In the game like this we have very less number in the bench and we can only use what we have at the moment.

The 36 Lion FC winger changed the game when the Flying Eagles played Ivory Coast U20 team and also did the same against the Ghana today, but it was late before the coach introduced him into the game, which his magic couldn’t change the scoreline because of limited time.

The Sky Blue Stars outclassed their 36 Lions opponent as they shot three goals past them, scoring in both halves while Usuagwu Victor was Man of the Match as he bagged a brace.

Ekiti United also got the better off ABS FC whom they beat 2-1.

Remo Stars who go top of Group B with a plus 3 goals difference ended the 1st half with a two goals lead as they profited from 36 Lions poor defending in the box. 

At the quarter of an hour, Remo Stars tamed 36 Lions defence after Osuagwu Victor headed home from an assist provided by ‘Captain Fantastic’ Awoyemi Abiodun.

Usuagwu then doubled his team’s lead scoring his brace from goal mouth scramble in the 33rd minute.

In the 54th minute of 2nd half, Collins will rue his miss as he had the best chance to give 36 Lions a lifeline but he sensationally blasted his effort to the sky to the bemuse of his team’s bench.

 Another glorious chance fell to 36 Lions after they were awarded a penalty in the 78th minute by the referee following an foul in the box.  

Remo Stars had goalkeeper Umar Farouq to thank after he made a save from Collins poor penalty kick.

As if the goals galore was not over, Yusuf Ibrahim in the 81st minute then put the game beyond the reach of 36 Lions scoring the third goal of the game.

For Ekiti United, they opened their goal account after Olajuyin Kehinde fired past ABS goalie in the 19th minute after a nice follow up of a brilliant loop. 

With two minutes to the end of the 1st half, ABS got a penalty after Mustapha was brought down inside the box. Issac Bamigboye made no mistake as he sent the Ekiti United goalkeeper Oladeji Joshua the wrong way to put scores at 1-1.

However, three minutes into the restart of the 2nd half, Akinsemoyin Tunde put Ekiti United 2-1 up scoring from an easy tap in after a long cross came to his path, with Goalkeeper Abiola Shabitu having no answer to the fierce delivery.

The Fountain Boys got the chance to score a third goal after they were awarded ai penalty in the 89th minute after Olajuyin Kehinde was brought down in the box.

Kehinde who choose to take it, made a mess of it as he put his effort wide

Lions battled hard to get back into the game but were unable to breach the match against Remo Stars.

At the quarter of an hour, Remo Stars open scoring as Osuagwu Victor headed home from an assist provided by Awoyemi Abiodun.

Usuagwu then doubled the lead with a brace from a goal mouth scramble in the 33rd minute.

There was plenty of huffing and puffing in the second half from the Lions, but they could not blow the Sky Blues defence down.

In the 54th minute of second half, Collins Sor rue a miss as he had the best chance to give the Lions a lifeline but, sensationally blasted his effort to the sky to the bemuse of Lion’s bench.

However, another glorious chance fell to Lions after they were awarded a penalty in the 78th minute by the referee following a foul in Remo Stars box.  

Remo Stars had goalkeeper Umar Farouq to thank after he made a save from Collins Sor poor spot kick.

Then in the last minute of the match, Yusuf Ibrahim put the game beyond the reach of Lions scoring the third goal of the game.

Lions will now shift attention to next game (tomorrow) as they squeal up against defending Champion Niger Tornadoes by 8am at Ilorin Township Stadium.

Abidoye Babatunde Blackcoin
36 Lion FC Media Officer
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