Wale Jagun
Veteran members of the Igbogbo All-Stars Team, did not disappoint HRM, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, as the team defeated their Ijede counterpart 1 – 0, in a novelty match commemorating the 10th coronation anniversary of the Adeboruwa.
The well -attended match was played at the newly constructed Igbogbo Stadium on Monday.
At the match, the Ikorodu Football Referees’ Society honoured retired referee, Mr Kabir Oluwatobi Baoku, for his service to the Society after 25 years, while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Prince Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, was presented with a recognition award by the All -Stars Football
While the Igbogbo All -Stars was captained by Tolulope Faniyi, Ijede All -Stars was led by Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), the representative of Ikorodu Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly.
The Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA Omo’ba Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun, commended the organisers of the novelty match for the initiative to honour the Adeboruwa on his coronation anniversary.
The council boss who said that sports and youth developments remain a cardinal part of his administration’s agenda, added that the stadium when finally completed would help in the implementation and achievement of his sporting programmes.
He thanked all the guests that attended the novelty match to honour the Adeboruwa and the entire Igbogbo residents.
AMA speaking after the game, said that the match is to honour and celebrate the Adeboruwa for his impactful 10 years reign.
“We are here to celebrate our father, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, for his ten years’ coronation. We are here to bestow honour on him for uplifting and bringing glory to Igbogbo Kingdom.”
“So, we are here to celebrate him with a novelty match. You know, it’s a week-long programme that has been scheduled for the anniversary and the novelty match ended 1 – 0 in favour of All Stars Igbogbo. Since we are in Igbogbo, we don’t expect Ijede to win since we are on Igbogbo ground and here to honour our royal father.
“The match score doesn’t matter in this game but the fact that we came to felicitate our dear Kabiyesi; that the Ijede people came to also honour Adeboruwa, and the people of Igbogbo Kingdom.”
The state lawmaker emphasised that the 10 year reign of Adeboruwa Orimadegun Kasali has been impactful, noting that the stadium is part of the development that came within the period of his reign.
“Well, ten years and I can just use where we are today as a case study. Ten years ago, this stadium was not like this. So, to show you that the reign of Kabiyesi Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom has been an added advantage to Igbogbo, we have to look at this edifice where the novelty match is taking place.”
“Aside from the pitch and stand that we are having the match, also look at the outdoor structure that is also ongoing.
“There are also developmental projects across nooks and crannies of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA. We can say that Kabiyesi’s reign has been impactful, and it unites the Igbogbo Kingdom as a whole. I congratulate Kabiyesi and felicitate with his family and every son and daughter of Igbogbo Kingdom,” AMA said.
Barrister Lukman Akisanya, the founder of Pepc Foundation, also in an interview, said that the celebration reflects the presence and significance of the royal father in his community.
“This novelty match is an amazing one and it was well organised.
“The 10 years coronation anniversary of our Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, is a reflection of his presence in the community. Everybody loves him, because he’s a progressive-minded monarch.
“You can see the stadium, where the match is being played as part of his efforts; his willingness to make sure that there is progress in the Igbogbo community.”
Barr. Akinsanya, who was an aspirant in the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Ibeju Lekki Federal Constituency, also acknowledged the support that Oba Kasali has given to him and his foundation.
The candidate of APC for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat, Lagos State House of Assembly and former Director -General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Prince Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, during whose tenure the Igbogbo Stadium construction kicked off, also congratulated the royal father.
“I congratulate Oba of Igbogbo on the occasion of his 10th coronation anniversary and we are proud of what he has been able to achieve within the period. We wish him a long and prosperous reign.
“This is his first decade, and we hope to have many more decades with him on the throne. We are proud of him. He has been very supportive of people and loves his community. He has been very supportive of the young and Igbogbo Kingdom has witnessed a lot of transformations since his emergence on the throne.”
Bolowotan thanked the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo -Olu for the progress on the Igbogbo Stadium and other projects across the Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA.”
