The Ahmed Ayinla Agaka Foundation has presented sports excellence awards to some football legends and sports promoters in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The awardees which included former players of the Green Eagles, Kwara United FC, amongst others went home with plaques and cash rewards.
The awardees include two veterans sports journalists- Hameed Adio and Bayour Issah; Yakubu Ekundayo (Captain Dayo)Baba Alli, Abdulkadir Tosho Alanamu, Coach Issa Saliman (Lanky)
Rashid Badmus (Baye) and the proprietor of Al- Yusuf Salami Rocks FC, Alhaji Adebayo Yusuf Salami and Kwara United Supporters Football Club.
Speaking at the event held at the Taiwo Awoniyi Media Centre at Ilorin Township Stadium, the chairman, Board of Trustees of the Ahmed Ayinla Foundation and former provost of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Dr Ahmed Ayinla Agaka described the foundation as a non-governmental organisation established in 2014 to ameliorate the suffering of the downtrodden, promote peace, and resolve conflicts.
Agaka who praised the awardees for their contributions to the growth of football in Kwara and Nigeria, called on the Kwara State government to immortalise the founder of Al-Yusuf Salami Rocks Football Club, Alh Adebayo Yusuf Salami Sarumi, by naming an edifice after him at the George Innih Agbazika Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
He noted that the gesture would serve as a reminder that the labour of past heroes would not be in vain, while also encouraging the abundance of upcoming sports talents in the state to continue showcasing their skills.
Agaka also appealed to corporate organisations and well meaning individuals to support the state government in its quest to build a healthy society that would be the pride of the nation.
Also speaking, the executive chairman of Kwara State Sports Commission, Mal. Bolakale Magaji, restated the of the state government commitment to embracing progressive ideas from stakeholders in the sports industry to further enhance sports development in the state.
Magaji, who described the event as laudable, said it was significant to recognise and celebrate sports heroes, stressing that the labour of past heroes should not be in vain.
He commended the organisers for deeming it fit to honour sports icons in for their contributions to sports development.
One of the awardees, Hameed Adio, thanked the organiser of the event for recognising and appreciating the sportsmen’s contribution to the development of the society.
