The Premier University in Nigeria, University of Ibadan will be a beehive of activities this weekend as ex-footballers of the institution hold their 8th Annual Réunion.

According to the release signed by the President of the Association Edwin Evbie, the activities will commence on Thursday with a visit to the new Sports Director of the University, Mr. Kehinde Eyiomo.

On Friday, they will visit some ailing members of the Association resident in Ibadan, and some media houses also in Ibadan. The Vice Chancellor of the Premier University, Prof. Kayode Adebowale will receive the Executive and Board of Trustees members of the Association in his office at noon same day. The members of the Association will thereafter visit some selected motherless babies home in Ibadan as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Saturday 17th December will be the climax of the Reunion with a Novelty Match at the University of Ibadan Stadium, while dinner and get together party will be held at the Trenchard Hall of the University later that day.

The Association president, Edwin Evbie said several prominent ex-football players that have passed through the University including Mutiu Adepoju, Edith Agoye, Christian Obi, Dimeji Lawal, Folorunsho Okenla, Abiodun Salami, Dr. Robinson Okosun of NFF, Mogaji Barr Rotimi Ali and Prof. Segun Adekunle amongst others are expected to grace the event. He further disclosed that an ex Super Eagles star shall be making a guest appearance at this year’s event.

The organizers of the Unity Preseason Tournament have expressed their sincere appreciations to various Football stakeholders in the country for rallying round them to ensure the successful completion of tournament which has been become the flagship in the Northern part of the country.

Speaking immediately after the final match held at the weekend, the General Coordinator of the tournament, Patrick Ngwaogu (Odogwu Ndi Abia) said the response of the stakeholders showed wide acceptability.

“We thank the President of the Nigeria Football Federation Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau who took time out of his tight schedule to watch some matches. We appreciate the First Vice President of the Federation Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu who took time out to watch the final match, we are very appreciative to the Chairman of Chairmen Alhaji Ahmed Fresh who happens to be the Coordinator of the football family in the North Central zone, he personally bankrolled the payment of our medical teams at the tournament, Cone Sports company was wonderful, they kitted our finalists, former FCT FA Chairman Emmanuel Attah provided us with all the individual awards, Cool/Wazobia /Nigeria Info FM that availed us with their platforms to reach out widely, our official media partners, ECN Global Ltd, Zoomax and PIKINOFGOD Ltd, the Sports Writers of Nigeria and many more too numerous to mention.

Finally, the support of the FCT Football Association led by Alhaji Murthar Abba Muhammed can not be quantified. We are grateful to the entire residents of the Federal Capital Territory for their words of encouragement “the former FCT First Vice Chairman said.

An elated Ngwaogu promised a better tournament in the next edition, appealing to the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation and that of various leagues to provide a stable calendar for Nigeria Leagues, to enable the organizers of the Preseason Tournaments also plan adequately for the betterment of the country’s football.

The Unity Preseason Tournament is in its second edition. Plateau United won the first edition defeating Nasarawa United by a lone. EFCC FC defeated same Nasarawa United to emerge winner’s in the just concluded edition.

The Organizers of the 2022 Unity Preseason Tournament have announced three Abuja based media outfits as their Media Partners in this year’s edition of the tournament.

Announcing this at the weekend, the General Coordinator of the Tournament Patrick Ngwaogu said the relationship was arrived at after proper assessment of the services that the organizations will render to tournament.

According to him, the decision was based on the experiences of the organizations in Sports, and other services they have rendered in past.

He was optimistic that the three organizations would support in properly projecting the tournament to the public.

Quoting his words, Ngwaogu who was the former First Vice Chairman of FCT Football Association said “the Unity Preseason Tournament is a program that has come to stay. We would continue to work hard to take it to perfection. We want to make the tournament which is in its second edition a force to reckon with in the country”.

Ngwaogu said the unstable football calendar remains one of the major challenges facing organizers of Preseason Tournaments in country “sincerely, the unstable football calendar is a problem of its own in the organization of Preseason Tournaments.

“As it is now, all the organizers are just assuming in whatever they doing in ensuring that our teams perform adequately before the season begins. But, no one knows the actual time the season will begin. While in the real sense, Preseasons are supposed to be the in last 60 days before the commencement of the new season.

“But, we would get there one day . Rome was not built in a day. It a matter of time ” the former Abia Warriors Sporting Director concluded.

The Unity Preseason Tournament holds in Abuja from 16th to 23rd October, with 12 teams participating.

According to the General Coordinator of the tournament Patrick Ngwaogu, the invited teams have started confirming their participation and readiness for the tournament.

Ngwaogu who was the immediate past Abia Warriors FC Sporting Director said teams like Nasarawa United who were runners up in last year’s edition have confirmed their participation, Lobi Stars have also confirmed, City FC, Wikki Tourists, EFCC, Like-Minds FC and Mailantarki have all confirmed their participation and readiness to be part of the tournament.

The former First Vice Chairman of FCT Football Association said within the week, teams like Rangers, Abia Warriors, Akwa United, Niger Tornadoes, Doma and Gombe Utd will all confirm their participations to enable the organizers finalize all logistics arrangements.

Ngwaogu promised that the kits and media partners of the tournament will be announced within the week.

The Unity Preseason Tournament is aimed at providing teams the opportunity to adequately prepare for the new football season. Plateau United are the defending champions.

The second edition of the 2022 Unity Preseason Tournament will hold in Abuja from 17-23 October 2022.

Announcing this in Abuja, the General Coordinator of the Tournament, Patrick Ngwaogu, said this year’s edition will involve 10 Premiership clubs in the country.
According to Ngwaogu who was the former First Vice Chairman of FCT Football Association, the invited clubs for this year’s edition will include Nasarawa United, Lobi Stars, Katsina United, Wikki Tourists, Doma FC, Abia Warriors FC, Gombe Utd, Sokoto United, City FC and EFCC FC. “We have informed the various clubs, and they are enthusiastic about the tournament, this year’s edition will hold from 17 to 23 October, 2022” Ngwaogu said that the tournament is aimed at adequately preparing the teams for the new football season and providing them the opportunities of sharing some technical ideas among themselves, towards having a successful season.

Ngwaogu who was the immediate past Abia Warriors FC Sporting Director said participating teams will have the opportunity of playing more friendly matches with the numerous teams in Abuja to enable them assess all their new recruits properly.

Plateau United are the defending champions of the Unity Preseason Tournament. They defeated Nasarawa United by a lone goal to emerge winner’s last year.

… CONGRATULATES IFA CHAIRMAN

The Ex University of Ibadan Footballers Association (EXUIFA), has inaugurated its new Executive Committee and Board of Trustees, while also congratulating the Chairman of the Ibadan Football Association (IFA), Barrister Rotimi Alli aka Libero, on his Award as The Most influential Sports Personality (Sports category) in Oyo State and special recognition for sports development in Ibadan land for the year 2020.

At a ceremony held at The New Stadium Complex of the University of Ibadan during it’s 6th World Reunion held in December, the Association Inaugurated new executive members led by Edwin Evbie as President. Other Exco members include Vita Odozor (VP), Lawrence Osuagwu (Gen.Sec), Olasoji Ilori (Asst.Gen. Sec), Henry Duru (PRO/Social Secretary) and Folajimi Oriogun (Fin.Sec.).

Also inaugurated is the BOT led by Mogaji (Prof) Olusegun Adekunle as Chairman, Mr. Festus Adegoju (CAF Licence A coach as Vice Chairman), Mr.Patrick Ngwaogu (Abia Warriors Sporting Director, as Secretary), Dr. Abiodun Salami (Director of Sports,UI), Dr. Robinson Okosun (NFF Psychologist), Mr.Adebayo Gbadebo (Premier League Coach, Thailand), Barr Rotimi Ali (Chairman, Ibadan FA) and Barr.Kolade Oladokun (Canada).

The new Executive members and Board of Trustees were sworn into Office by Barrister Kola Majaro in the presence of a cheering crowd of ex footballers who turned out for the annual reunion. Both the new Executive members and Board of Trustees have a four (4) year term and are expected to take the Association to the desired great heights.

Also, the Association has congratulated it’s Board of Trustee member, Barrister Rotimi Alli on his recent awards.

In a statement released by the Public Relations Officer of the EXUIFA, Mr Henry Duru, the Association congratulated Barrister Rotimi Alli on his laudable achievements and wished him more success in his desire to take football in Oyo State to greater heights. According to the release, ‘Barr. Ali’s passion for Football is unparalleled and this he has used to great advantage as an Administrator, reviving the once revered IFA League, renovating the Olubadan Stadium in Ibadan and generally promoting Grassroots Football development in Ibadan nay Oyo State’.