At Prince Oyekan’s Birthday Bash, Lagos FA Boss Promises Support For DFAs

L-R: Lagos FA Boss, Seyi Akinwumi, Prince Ifalade Oyekan and FA Vice Chairman, Tade Azeez cutting the birthday cake

Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, LSFA, Barrister Oluseyi Akinwunmi has reaffirmed his board’s support to the five divisional associations and regenerate development from the grassroots.

Akinwunmi, who is also the Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF reiterated the importance of the Divisional Football Associations, DFAs in the scheme of things when he hosted Lagos Island Divisional Football Association chairman, Prince Ifalade Oyekan.

The LSFA boss was speaking at a get together organised to celebrate the birthday of Prince Ifalade Oyekan, a member of the board and chairman of the Lagos Island Divisional Football Association.

During the brief celebration at the LSFA office at Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Oyekan through his Erin Jogun Ola Movement presented set of jerseys and made cash donations to grassroots clubs under his division while revealing plans to resuscitate developmental competitions.

Akinwunmi enjoined Prince Oyekan not to rest on his oars and ensure that a lot of clubs benefited from his selfless service to the beautiful game and use football to emancipate the youth.

“Prince Oyekan is very useful to the LSFA board, he is very useful to me personally because he support my foundation a great deal. We have somethings in common, we both like to give and beyond that, this is how we roll at the LSFA, we honour ourselves, we celebrate ourselves. I gave him a lot of advice which he has taken. He needs to get close to his division and what we have decided at the LSFA is to increase our support to the five divisional associations, so he know that he has the backing of the board but we urge him to keep on doing what he is doing and God will bless the rest, ” said Akinwunmi.

The redesigned Oba Cup football competition and ‘Goalz Schools Project’ for pupils of primary schools are some of the grassroots tournaments planned by the Lagos Island Divisional Football Association this year.

The DFA has the highest number of top amateur clubs in the state. The new tournament to honour the memory of Oba Adeyinka Oyekan will bring the clubs together and promote healthy rivalry that engender growth of the round leather game on Lagos Island.

According to Prince Oyekan, the division has enjoyed tremendous support from the Lagos FA board under the leadership of Barrister Oluseyi Akinwunmi.

He said the act of giving back to the community was motivated by the philanthropic gesture of Barrister Akinwunmi whose eponymous charity mini tournament has raised funds to support education of indigent children.

Oyekan added: “When you have a family that care for you and show that you are part of them, it is very important and so exciting. Like I keep on telling people that if you are buoyant to do, you need to show love. This is something I derive joy in doing, when I show love, when I help other people. The grassroots football club that we support with jerseys and cash today, Sandos FC have great potentials in their players.

“Their ages between 5 and 15 and I’m proud to encourage the team with the donation. I should say a big thank you to my chairman, Barrister Oluseyi Akinwunmi for the wonderful job and the good things that he is doing. Without him we wouldn’t be here. The way he coordinates the FA is so wonderful and l learn from him almost everyday. This is part of what he does as well, giving back to the society”.

Also presented at the birthday celebration are LSFA Vice Chairman, Tade Azeez, Chairman of the technical committee, Dotun Coker Mojeed Adegbindin, Wale Joseph, office staff, coaching and technical staff.