Excitement builds as Osogbo Township Stadium comes alive as the third edition of Ajara U-17 Football Final draws football experts, ex-internationals, football administrators, football investors, club owners, football enthusiasts, scouts, education managers, Sports Writers, and many more.
Anticipating the epic final with palpable enthusiasm and sporting ambiance, it's dubbed clash of 'titans' as Salvation Army Grammar School ambushes ambitious and youthful An-Nur Model College, come Wednesday, 20th November 2024.
While navigating the treacherous path towards the competition's summit, the two sides have shown resilience, grit, and dominance, high-flying An-Nur dislodged St. Charles (4-0) while Salvation Army walloped Sodeeq Adeleke (5-1) in the semi-finals.
According to the Executive Director of the foundation, Alhaji Dr. Bayo Jimoh who exemplifies strength and resilience all along this journey, AHF is committed to empowering young people by teaching them valuable skills that will allow them to earn a living and lift their families out of poverty. A more prosperous society is the goal of using football as the flagship of the vision to inspire, unite, and transform society.
"The essence of this project is to create an atmosphere to identify raw talents with skills that are trainable, those that will grow to become professionals that Nigeria dearly needs.
"We know the importance of football as the biggest enterprise in the world, a strong unifying factor for every country, any country not strong in the area of football would definitely not be on the map. Aging players will retire one day, that's why foundations like ours have chosen to create a platform for training talented kids to join the trade.
"We express our profound appreciation to Ilaji FC our co-partner for willingly coming on board to further train scouted players, in this championship. Last year, we sponsored 22 players and four of them are still training there, in the next few months, more players will find themselves in the promised land, we are achieving the objectives, particularly with the technical support being provided by Ilaji FC."
Alhaji Bayo Jimoh reiterated that the family believes in Nigeria, that's why the arrowhead of the foundation, Dr. Lanre Jimoh, a medical practitioner in the States, continues to shoulder the responsibility of kitting players with world-class kits and sending customised football with a lot of funds.
"With same shared vision, Ilaji FC also donates sports equipment to the project aside the technical support being provided. Also, the project has catched the glimpse of reputable friends and individuals who have joined the lists of donors."
Conclusively, Dr. Bayo Jimoh noted that the government alone can't do it, while there's a level of partnership the government should embrace from NGOs, corporate entities, and individuals.
"In the days of academicals, potentials were drawn across schools and they made name for themselves, we have requested officially from state government, the need to get a parcel of land for development of standard football facilities, we know government can't manage this, that's why they need private partners like ours, we shall continue engaging them," Dr. Adebayo Jimoh, a successful businessman, vastly exposed, Giwa Adini of Osogbo land stated.
The stage is set, and exciting and juicy packages are on the horizon as the finalists battle for coveted trophy and cash price of One Million Naira, the second and third-place schools will for the first time lift prestigious trophies and will get five hundred thousand naira and three hundred and fifty thousand naira respectively in addition to branded balls, customised jerseys and thousands of exercise books to be shared amongst the participating schools.
The athletes are ready, Ajara Humanitarian Foundation is set to power the mother of all battles with a long list of dignitaries drawn from the government and reputable individuals. Expectedly, Hon. Olagunju Moshood Olalekan who is the commissioner for youth affairs is the special guest while Araba of Osogbo land, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon is the chairman of the day. Co-sponsors, Mr. Gbenga Agboola, CEO of Flutterwave Ltd., Seyi Akinwale, Founder, of Special Foundation, Mr. Ademola Balogun, Chairman of Dembal Generators, and Dr. Adegboyega Oduola will also be at the venue of the grand finale.
The custodian of football, Osun FA, Sports Council GM Mr, Rotimi Dunmoye, friends of Ajara, Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA), Football Communities from Osun State University and Osun State Polytechnic lree, Dr. Felix Owolabi MON., Alh. Muftau Owolabi and many more would light up the arena. Meanwhile, St. Charles Grammar School will tackle Sodiq Adeleke Islamic College in third place before the epic final battle by 2pm.