Photo-Extra : Owosports takes birthday celebration to orphanage home

Comrade Owolabi Alesh celebrates another Birth Date with Ijamido Children’s home


CEO of Owosports Integrated Services and Renowned Sports journalist Comrade Owolabi Aleshinloye celebrates another year on earth on Tuesday, February 26 with a visit to Ijamido Children’s home, Ota, Ogun State.

The Oyo-state born, who is the general manager of NLO side, Magate FC made a visit to the orphanage home in the early hours of Tuesday with the aim of touching the lives of those kids without parental help and care.


‘I’m grateful for this day and I thank God for keeping me safe and sound up to this level. I have my family around me which is why I have decided to celebrate this birthday with the kids at the orphanage home”. He said.

OwoSports as he is fondly called, is currently a sportscaster with Lagos based Radio station Jordan 105.5fm (Nigeria Sports Express) and Faaji Fm 106.5fm(SportsTango).

Sports Council Boss Salutes Ekiti Utd Handlers

Akanni Seyi

The General Manager of Ekiti Sports Council, Chief Ayodeji Samo has eloquently praised the level of work done on the newly inaugurated state team, Ekiti United.

The Ado Ekiti based team are preparing vigorously for the incoming Nigeria National League season and are since locked themselves up in a close venue in Ikere Ekiti for their close camping activities.

Recall that one time Nnewi United tactician Coach Agbana Ademola has since been engaged to tinker the team for the coming season. The Ekiti born coach who worked with Choice FC last season in his bid to raise a formidable side has been working with invited quality players for weeks.

During the unannounced trip made to the training venue, the Sports Council supremo, Chief Ayodeji Samo expressed satisfactory and further charges the officials and players of the team to work very hard in order to restore the lost glory of the club. 

"We are glad with the level of serious work the handlers are doing with this team. 

"l want to assure you that the entire  state sports council will do everything expressly to stand by you. The government is so magnanimous enough in returning the club to the second tier league in the land.

"This is the time to replicate the good gestures of the state government by moving the team forward. You players should cooperate with your coaches, since we have a competent gaffer and dependable lieutenants. I promise to support you even with my personal resources." The resourceful boss submitted.

Responding after the sports council's boss exhortative remarks, United gaffer Coach Agbana Ademola, was full of praise for the fatherly role being played by Chief Samo since the inauguration of the present team officials.

He later confidently informed the visiting government representatives that the team will fight to raise the banner of good works being done by the state government. He promised further that Ekiti United will not let the state down as they are working assiduously to raise a team which all and sundry will be proud of. 

Half salary returns in Plateau United

Plateau United Football Club of Jos places players on ‘No Work No Pay’ after first defeat at home in three years.

The management of Plateau United Football Club of Jos has placed its players on the no work no pay rule after the team suffered their first defeat at home in three years in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Aside from the no work no pay rule, the players and technical crew will be placed on half salaries until the fortunes of the club improve.

General Manager of the Club, Pius Henwan who made the management position known to the team, said the decision became necessary in view of the manner of the home loss on Match Day 10 against visiting side Kada City which is unacceptable to the government and people of Plateau State.

Henwan who expressed displeasure with the lacklustre performance of the team during the midweek tie noted that the measures will remain until the team gets the three points they lost at home from an away game.

He further explained that for management to take them seriously, they must win their next match against Abia Warriors in Umuahia or at least a draw in order to recoup the lost points.

Having worked so hard to ensure the prompt payment of their salaries and other entitlements, the state government who are sole financiers of the team and the people of Plateau State deserve more than what they are getting from the team.

He noted that management has concluded arrangement to drop unproductive players who have not exhibited professionalism, commitment and hard work to the cause of the team at the end of the first round.

The General Manager who was addressed the players at their New Jos Stadium training ground stated that they must collectively work to achieve the goals and objectives set up for the team at the start of the season which is to pick s continental ticket.

While lamenting the lack of commitment and zeal displayed during the defeat to Kada City stars of Kaduna which further drifted the team deep into relegation waters. The General Manager challenged them to brace up for the huge challenge ahead and restore the team to where it belongs.

Wednesday’s defeat, which was the first for the team since their return to the top flight of Nigeria football over three years ago, has put the team in an unfamiliar position on the NPFL Group B table.

It would be recalled that Plateau United was banished from the New Jos Stadium after their fans attacked centre referee, Sam Agba following the team,s goalless draw against visiting Ifeanyi Uba of Nnewi in a matchday one fixture last month.

Source- Plateau United Communication Unit

Ogunjobi: Osun FA must augment his extra ordinary tales of benovelence and bravery

Seyi Akanni

A famous quote by Batra is: “Either I will come back after hoisting the tricolour (Indian flag), or I will come back wrapped in it, but I will be back for sure.” 

The moment Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi laid down his sword, the State of Osun FA was inundated with myriad of insinuations, forecasting perilous and gloomy days for football related activities in the state. To avert the looming dangers in sight, one must agree that Ogunjobi must return.

Of a truth, the gallant, hero and a recherché gem has fallen in Taiwo Ogunjobi, the 'Fiwajoye' of Ede land.

Born in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, Captain Batra of 13 J&K Rifles, is known as the hero of the Kargil war. 

He led one of the toughest war operations in Kashmir, and was also called Sher Shah (in the intercepted messages of the Pakistani army).

He was instrumental in recapturing Peak 5140, which is located at an altitude of 17,000 feet. During this mission, Batra was seriously injured but still managed to kill three enemy soldiers in close combat.

 After capturing Peak 5140, he went on yet another difficult mission to recapture Peak 4875 on July 7, 1999. Batra made a call to his father before he left and told him about the crucial mission. Hardly did he know that this would be his last call home.

It was one of the most difficult missions the Indian army attempted because the Pakistani forces were sitting above the peak at 16,000 feet and the climb gradient was 80 degrees. 

On their way up, one of Batra’s fellow officers was severely injured. Batra set out to save him. When a subedar tried to help him save the officer, Batra pushed him aside, saying, “You have children, step aside.” He saved his fellow soldier but was killed while clearing enemy positions. 

Late Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi has in the time past battled enemies within and without in close combat for football to take its due position.

He has endured so many afflictions because many are the affliction of the righteous but the Lord delivers him from them all. 'Skippo' as he's fondly called has fought for many destinies to survive.

Chief Ogunjobi excelled in both academics and the round leather game. He left Shooting Stars in 1976 to pursue his academics in the United States. He later Captain the same team in 1984 to play in the finals of the African Champions Cup and played in the Green Eagles team that played in the finals of AFCON in Ivory Coast in1984.

 As a leader with rare leadership styles, Ogunjobi administered Shooting Stars, Gabros International and Julius Berger before rising to become the Secretary General of the then NFA, and later Technical Committee Chairman of the NFF. 

He is a simple man but very brave and skilled in battle. The then Osun FA boss served the immediate past government as Senior Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Football Matters. 

An icon whose tales will not just make your chests swell with pride, but his sacrifices will leave your eyes widely  moist. He has sent me on different occasions to deliver cash gifts to troubling souls within our sporting space, what a worthy role model!

From its extraordinary congress yesterday, Osun FA has been charged to shun glitz and embrace unity, such that the legacies left behind by Ogunjobi would be greatly sustained, the main reason why Ogunjobi must return.

"You must be united to produce a leader who will continue where Ogunjobi unexpectedly stopped.

"We are seriously indebted to late Chief Ogunjobi, a leader per excellence because 'NO' doesn't exists in his dictionary.

"I assure you all that football will not die in this state, the government will do everything within its purview to advance this course." The words of immediate past commissioner for Social Protection, Sports  and Special Needs,  Com. Biyi Odunlade.

Whoever emerges the leader of the Football Association in the state through elective congress of June 17th, 2019 must know that Ogunjobi died while watching other peoples back and should be thankful for Ogunjobi's courage and valor.

Sustaining the standard set by TJO would attess the fact that Ogunjobi must return. The congress has since declared five (5) days for the purchase and submission of forms for the chairmanship position.

Posterity would not be kind upon anyone that comes on board and allows the hard fought legacies of our own 'Skippo' and 'Osun Pillar of Sports' to go in vain. 

We need a leader like Ogunjobi who understands the industry very well and whose altruistic act is second to none. 

I will soon come back to this space and x-rays the antecedent of those willing to jostle for the revered seat of Osun FA boss. 

Death is indeed the beginning of eternal life. Rest on our dear Chief Taiwo Joseph Ogunjobi till that day when we shall sing ' O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory ?'

Golden Eaglets to resume training camp on Sunday

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the country’s U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets will resume training camp ahead of the U-17 AFCON in Tanzania on Sunday.

Information has it that the Famous  Serob Hotel Wuye Abuja will come alive from Sunday as training would commence on Monday.

As part of their build-up for the AFCON in Tanzania, Eaglets will also feature in an invitational tournament in Japan.

The Manu Garba tutored side qualified for the U-17 AFCON in Tanzania when they topped the zonal qualifiers in Niger last year.

Eaglets will slug it out with the likes of Angola, Uganda and the host Tanzania. The tournament would kick off on April 14.

The tournament's Semi Finalists will make it to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru later in the year.