The emergence of Ekiti Football

-By Olamide Awoyinfa

Ekiti State gained popularity for it's value of education, not with having the highest number of professors at point in time in the history of the country. 

The state is also popular as agrarian and for its rich cultural homogeneity. 

However, not many can connect the state to sports and football in particular, albeit, this is not for lack of talents. There have been sprinting sensations, Oluyemi Kayode, Olumide Fasuba, Damola Osayomi and currently, the dazzling young table tennis star, Tosin Oribamise. 

In recent years, players from Ekiti state have made the Nigeria national football teams, from Sunday Alimi, U17 in 2007, to Damilola Adeyeye, U15 in 2019, Tolu Ojo, U20 in 2022 and Babatunde Bello, Super Eagles, 2022.

In 2019, the Ekiti Football Ecosystem elected Mr. Bayo Olanlege as the Chairman of Ekiti State Football Association, to oversee everything football in the state. Coming on board, he had met a state with indifferent attitude toward football and he knew that he needed to act fast to wake the spirit, someway, somehow.

He ensured and oversaw the creation of functioning Local Football Councils in the 16 local governments in the State, an action that gave the Local Football Councils the opportunity to organize annual Unity Cup, to foster the development of football in the local areas. 

Moreover, in a state where youth are already dominating the population, the idea was to make sport a tool to develop youth in the state. This was quickly put to work by organizing football competitions to create platforms for engaging and scouting young talents. 

The Ekiti league was established for non league clubs in the state and a partnership was born between Bet9ja, the number one betting company in the country, which gave birth to naming the league, Bet9ja Ekiti Football League, the first edition was played in 2019.

Ambiance of new dawn in Ekiti Football Ecosystem, as talents in the nooks and crannies of the state are being unearthed gradually. New life was given to school sports as Prof. Akin Oyebode football competition amongst secondary school student across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state was organized by State Football Association and sponsored by the state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. Akintunde Oyebode in honour of his patriarch of his family, Professor Akin Oyebode ( The first Vice - Chancellor of Ekiti State University). 

There are other partnerships in place as Ekiti FA partnered with La Liga Nigeria (Spanish league body, Nigeria Chapter) to train grassroots coaches. 

Many people craved for a development in the system such as this, football development, and Ekiti State would be able to stand with states like Lagos, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa. 

Ekiti FA did not leave it at scouting talents on the pitch alone as it also made sure outstanding kids get scholarships. Almost a dozen or more young male and female talents in the state are enjoying one form of scholarship or the other at the moment. 

The Ekiti State Football Ecosystem should be proud of itself, as they can easily call on sponsors and will get answered. What is left is for the state government to continue to create an enabling environment, build more sports facilities round the state, provide subventions for sporting associations, all to allow the growth of football and other sports in the state.

Sunday Ola Unity Cup Organizers promise colorful final

......Sponsor invites Governor Oyebanji, Ewi, Others for finals ... by Olamide Awoyinfa

Organisers of the Sunday Ola Unity Cup have expressed readiness for the final of the competition, which comes up on December 18th, 2022. The final of the event will be between Ajaye FC, Ajilosun, Ado Ekiti and Crankshaft FC, Opopogbooro, Ado Ekiti, is set to take place at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti on Sunday and the head of the organizing team, Prince Ayodeji Aladesiun on Tuesday noted that all is set for the final. Aladesiun, who is also in charge of affairs of Ado Local Football Council, also affirmed that the competition has been exciting from the very beginning and the final will not be different. "The competition started on a very good note, we have worked well to put in place a good competition in our LFC, and the teams that participated has made the job easy and interesting, we are hoping to have a colorful and exciting final come Sunday" he said. He also added that the Local Organising Committee and the organising team have been working round the clock to perfect all plans for the final. The sponsor of the competition, Hon. Sunday Ola has also sent invitation to notable figures to grace the final, such as the Governor, HE, Biodun Oyebanji, HRM, Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Habibat Adunbiaro and many stakeholders.