YSFON Announces Date For 6th Annual MKO Abiola National U-18 CUP
-36 States Confirm Participation
The 6th edition of the U-18 annual national MKO Boys Soccer Tournament that was instituted to immortalise the late business mogul and Pillar of Sports in Africa, Bashorun MKO Abiola will attract participants from the 36 States of the Federation.
The Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) Secretary in Ogun State, Mr Olalekan Kehinde Adeyemi who is a member of the organizing committee has disclosed this to the sporting press while confirming date for the commencement of the tourney.
Saturday, 24th of August, according to the Ogun YSFON Secretary has been picked with expectation to coincide with the posthumous birthday of the late sports Icon.
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.”
Ogun YSFON Scribe further eulogized the late Pillar of Sports in the whole of Africa, saying late MKO Abiola also did a lot more for the development of Sports in Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole.
“Apart from the last year 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 MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta. This year edition will attract more participants as all the States have been invited to make this year 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.
It will be recalled that BEYOND LIMIT Football Academy from Ogun State won the last year edition when they defeated their counterparts from Edo State by a lone goal.
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, also with Ogun State government for naming Abeokuta Stadium as MKO Abiola International Stadium and also 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 Mr Kunle Soname, Chairman, Remo Stars F.C, Mr 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.
