Lanreleke Sports Academy is a co-educational, fully residential and specialist Senior Secondary School, which boost of a world-class sports facility was founded in 2021.

Managing Director of Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Ltd, Engr Olanrewaju Adeleke in his remarks expressed his delights.

“We are delighted that all ball games of southwest zonal qualification of the National Sports Festival (tagged Delta 2022), will be hosted at the Lanreleke Sports Academy in Ileogbo and Bowen University.

“It will be a beehive of activities here at the Lanreleke Sports facility in the next four days, as seven ball games will be hosted here.

“I want to express my sincere thanks to the Planning Committee members for their commitment as we showcase our facility to the world.

“Here at the Lanreleke Sports Academy, we are raising talents to become future champions. 58 students were offered admission in our maiden session, this year about 65 students have gained admission and they are all on full scholarships.

“The closing ceremony is billed for Bowen University, as the two institutions have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the area of academy and sports.”

In an address delivered by the Osun State Commissioner for Sports, Honourable Azeez Olayemi Lawal, he itemized sed the importance of the event, as he charged the umpires on fairness.

“There are a lot of benefits the event will accord the State, economic boost of Ileogbo, showcasing the facilities within the state, as well as making friends among the participants.

“The organizers and officials must maintain fairness in their judgment as this is the only panacea through which the best teams (athletes) that will do the zone proud can be identified.”

Over 800 athletes from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti State will be participating in football, basketball, handball, volleyball, hockey, base/softball and beach volleyball.

The 21st edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) which was earlier scheduled to take place between 2-15 November, will now hold from 28 November till 10 December.

The Owena Whales had to hold on to beat Rivers United by a lone goal on the last day of the league to ensure they retain their status in the top flight.

Executive Chairman of Ondo State Football Association, Otunba Sunday Dele Ajayi told reporters on Sunday in Benin, the venue for this year’s Aiteo Cup final that it was as a result of concerted efforts by football stakeholders in the state with a positive approach from the government that saw Sunshine beat the drop.

Otunba Ajayi who was making a return to the helm of football affairs in the state noted that all hands must be on deck to see the club remain permanently in the league.

He also advised the Ondo State government to reconsider her stand on selling the club to a private body.

“I told the government and people of Ondo State that Sunshine will not go on relegation under my watch as FA Chairman and by God’s grace, we achieve that.

“Since the election has been conducted and I’m the chairman of the state FA, I mobilized all stakeholders to put in our best resources to see the club stay in the Premier League.

“We’ve done our part and it’s now left for the (Ondo State) government what they want to do with the team (to stay in the NPFL).

“We will need to sit down with the stakeholders and government to determine what they want to do on time so that they will start preparation and recruitment for the new season in earnest, and if Government wants to sell they can go ahead, but for now we’ve tried our best to see the team stay in the NPFL.

“I told the government you cannot sell a dilapidated house, it has to be renovated first. We have renovated the house (Sunshine Stars) so they can decide on selling it or not,” he said.

The business tycoon cum veteran sports administrator was asked what he expects from the club next season and he said “We are in the Premier League with the concerted efforts from everyone identified with the team and I’m confident next season we are going to fight for a continental ticket.”

One of the fastest growing football club in Kogi State, Igala United have set their eyes on claiming more glories and honors in football after their making impressive debut in Nigerian league.

The club which was formed about five months ago by the president, Dr Victor Alewo Adoji with the aim of empowering youths in the Igala extraction of Kogi State has become an household among football families in Nigeria.

Igala United participated in the just concluded Nationwide League One, NLO Division 3 at Akure, Ondo State and finished second behind Victory Police of Osun who picked the sole ticket to the NLO 2.

The club went through their pre- tournament games unbeaten and they also emerged the highest scoring team at the playoffs in Akure with six goals in four matches.

According to the Chairman and Technical Director of the club, Abubakar Kamar, the NLO participation was an eye opener for the young team which he believed has given them more experience to build on.

Coach Kamar expressed delight in the team for their performance being their first time of playing in any competition or league proper.

He thanked the club president, Dr Adoji for his immense support, encouragement and motivation to the team just as he promised that the team will always make him proud.

“I’m really impressed with what we have done at the playoffs and give kudos to the entire team, it’s their first time in the league yet they were able to make this mark, its quite commendable.

“The team was formed five months ago played unbeaten from all our friendly matches to the league proper and ended up as highest scoring side is a reflection of how committed and good we are, I think we are starting on a good note and we will surely get better.

“All these could not be achieved without the support and motivation from our President, Dr Victor Alewo Adoji and we will always be grateful to him for believing in the team will never let him down.

“I equally want to appreciate the coaching crew and the officials of the team for good job and team work starting from Coach Zhokwor Jeremiah, Coach Aromeh Kolofu, Coach Tairu Ibrahim, Coach Faruk Ojomakpene Yahaya, Amos John, the Physiotherapist, Dr Ojih Sule, the Club Doctor, Sani Siaka, Team Coordinator and Nuhu M. Alhassan who is the Club Secretary.

Salifu ‘Evra’ Abdullahi of Igala United was the highest goal scorer at the NLO playoffs with three goals and the young player is being wanted by NPFL side, Sunshine Stars among two others players from Igala United, an indication of qualify abound in the team according to Coach Kamar.

The club has promised to work hard and come back stronger for next season which Kamar believed will be much better for Igala United.

Ekene Awazie’s low drive inside the opening eight minutes tipped the balance of the keenly contested round 22 tie in favour of the Anambra Wariors.

The Owena Whales took the game to the hosts minutes after going down but failed to punish their opponents from chances created; first on an indirect free kick awarded them inside the box after the goalkeeper collected a desperate back pass that denied Fuad Ekelojuoti a chance at goal.

The visitors went close to drawing level again when Sharp Uzoigwe spilled Kehinde Adedimpe’s volley, but the goalkeeper reacted fast to stop Fuad Ekelojuoti from pouncing home from the rebound 10 minutes from the break.

In the 41′ Adedimpe evaded his marker with a nutmeg in the area; shot on target, but Fredrick Obomate dragged wide from his rebound. Then three minutes later Emmanuel James drew a save from the goalkeeper with a free kick.

The task could have been made more daunting at the interval, but David Ariyo spared the coach Gbenga Ogunbote tutored side’s blushes with a top of the drawer save from a goal mouth lose ball at the stroke of half time.

Ariyo was on hand in the 69′ to deny the hosts with another brave stop from goal mouth, while at the other end a combination of good goalkeeping and desperate defending thwarted a certain leveler from Sadeeq Yusuf’s low drive. 

Four minutes from time, Ariyo stood firm again to keep his side in the contest with a big save from inside the area, which set the stage for a last minute attempt at equaliser in the shape of Sunday Emmanuel’s curling effort that drifted just wide.

OGUNBOTE’S POST MATCH

“I thought we were going to have a break here but unfortunately we didn’t. Yes, I think we can survive relegation, we just have to take our chances; if we had taken those chances in the first half, maybe we would have been three, four goals up. We need to be calm in front of goal.

“The government is trying now to live up to their parental responsibilities to ensure that things are done to get the team motivated and I think that will boost the team; yes the governemt is more committed than before. 

“When a team does not win the confidence level drops and is nowmore of psychological problem than technical, but we will keep working on correcting this.”

The Akure landlords next host MFM FC in a Southwest derby on match day 23.

Sunshine XI | Ariyo; Abe (C), (Olulayo 76′) Oladuntoye, Alimi, James, Adeyemi, (Emmanuel 73′)Adedipe, Obamote, Ekelojuoti, (Adejubu 73′) Yusuf, (Ojukwu 54′)

Subs | Ayodele; Ewelike, Abisoye, Yakub, Ajani

Cautions | Alimi 5′ Adeyemi 47′ Oladuntoye 55′

Chris Okunnuwa 
Media Officer; Sunshine Stars FC 
IG, FB & Twitter: @SunshineFCAkure

Mr Adetula who also doubles as the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Olympic Committee will over see the establishment and development of Teqball in Ondo state.

In a letter signed by the General Secretary, Nigeria Teqball Federation, Ndudi E. Edede, Phemmy Adetula will also choose his executive board to pilot the affairs of the association in the sunshine state.

“You will accomplish all task of the association including: administration, registration related to the establishment and development of the State Teqball Association on pro tem basis from the aforementioned date”.

Speaking on his appointment Oluphemmy Adetula revealed that he is up to the challenge of establishing Ondo state as one of the best place for Teqball using the human resources the sunshine state is blessed with.

“This is a good opportunity to promote the sport of Teqball as well as provide the teeming youths of Ondo state a chance to be early adopters of this unique sport and dominate in no distant time”.

NIGTEQ is recognized by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the International Federation of Teqball (FITEQ), the International Sport Federation responsible for the worldwide management, practice, development and promotion of the sports.

(Futball Galore)