MKO Abiola U-18 tournament gets August 24 date as 36 states confirm participation
Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria has announced that the 6th edition of the annual U-18 M.K. O Abiola Boys Soccer will kick off on Saturday August 24, 2024
Disclosing this, Ogun State YSFON Secretary, Olalekan Kehinde Adeyemi who is a member of the organizing committee noted that the tournament
that was instituted to immortalize the late business mogul and Pillar of Sports in Africa, Bashorun MKO Abiola will attract participants from the 36 states of the Federation just as he announced that the date was picked to coincide with the posthumous
birthday of the late Pillar of Sports in Africa.
Adeyemi, an English FA trained Football Psychologist stressed that “If RAMAT CUP is being organized annually in the city of Kano in honour of the late Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Muritala Ramat Muhammed and we also have Oba of Benin Cup being held annually in Benin, Ogun State YSFON will also make Bashorun MKO Abiola’s Cup an annual event in Ogun State.”
The Ogun State YSFON S
scribe further eulogized the late Pillar of Sports in Africa; saying that the late M.K.O Abiola did a lot for the development of sports in Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole during his life time.
“Apart from the last year’s edition where only 12 States that qualified from the 6 geo-political zones of the country participated in the tournament in Ijebu Ode and the final match played at the M.K.O Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta, this year’s edition will attract more participants as all the states have been invited to make this year’s edition more competitive and glamorous.”
“Also, during the opening ceremony this year, each state shall have their march past in their traditional attire for a colourful outing,” he noted.
Speaking further, Adeyemi said “If MKO Abiola were to see what’s going on after his departure, he would at least be happy with the Federal Government for naming the Abuja International Stadium after him and also with Ogun State Government for naming Abeokuta Stadium as M.K.O Abiola International Stadium as well as with the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) for organising an annual U-18 Boys soccer tournament in his name”.
“For this year edition, we are expecting support from the Ogun State Government, sports loving spirited individuals and corporate organizations which include Kunle Soname, Chairman, Remo Stars F.C, Babajide Odedeji, Chairman, Agroterra F.C, Abeokuta, Otunba Wale Adenugba, former and incumbent Members of Senate and House of representatives, Rites Foods Limited in Ogun State and a host of other dignitaries in the State,” Adeyemi who doubles as the Director of Sports Olabisi Onabanjo University enthused.
It would be recalled that Beyond Limit Football Academy from Ogun State won last year’s edition when they defeated their counterparts from Edo State by a lone goal.
