Wale Jagun
-IBLCDA Chairman calls for review of law that retires vibrant Referees at prime
About four years after his official retirement from active duty, the Ikorodu Football Referees Society has honoured Mr Kabir Oluwatobi Baoku with the officiating of Oba Adeboruwa’s 10th Coronation Anniversary’s novelty match.
The match organised to commemorate the royal father’s anniversary was played at the newly constructed Igbogbo Stadium on Monday with dignitaries in attendance.
THE IMPACT gathered that the Referees Society upon contact by the organisers for the officiation of the novelty match between the All Stars Igbogbo and Ijede, it was resolved that a veteran such as retired Ref. Baoku should handle the match as his official retirement game.
The match ended 1 – 0 in favour of All Stars, Igbogbo.
Baoku officially retired in December 2022, after 25 years of active service. He actually started his whistling career in 1997.
Oba Kasali with the Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun, and other dignitaries on behalf of the Society, presented Baoku with a big frame in appreciation of his service to the game of football at the local, state and national levels.
Baoku who received the honour prostrating flatly to the royal father, thanked the Ikorodu Football Referees Society for the honour after several years of service.
He also congratulated Adeboruwa on his 10th coronation anniversary and wished Oba Kasali a long, impactful and prosperous reign.
Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun, who said that he wasn’t aware that his childhood friend would be honoured during the novelty soccer match commemorating the Adeboruwa’s coronation anniversary, said that he retired too young, adding that the law should be revisited for active and performing Referees to stay longer.
“I was not aware that my brother, my childhood friend, a great supporter, is going to retire today as a referee. Just like the elders have asked, why are these young and vibrant young Referees retiring in their prime? I think there is a need for us to look into this law,” he said.
“We are proud of you. You have represented the Igbogbo Kingdom very well. You are a man of character and discipline.
“On behalf of myself and my cabinet, and our Councillors, we are going to give you a token of two hundred and fifty thousand Naira for you, for the retirement celebration.”
He charged him and another retiree, Ref. Jelili Ogunmuyiwa to focus on mentoring young ones to also attain stardom.
“Thank you very much for your service. I want to urge you and others who have retired, especially Jelili (Ogunmuyiwa), that there is a need for us to mentor young referees. So that the height you guys attained, they can go beyond that.
Jellili retired as a referee and we need to produce more active football referees. I know Babaloja General (Prince Jimoh Ogunmuyiwa, former Chairman, IBLCDA and father of Jelili Ogunmuyiwa) used to be a referee too.”
