Except for those who are very close to him, Chief Kabiru
Adewale Shotobi, the Odofin Erujeje of Ikorodu ordinarily does not look like a
man who has flair for sports.
The soft spoken sport philanthropist, who is one of the most
powerful and well revered traditional chiefs in Ikorodu, unknown to many, was a
very good footballer during his secondary school days at the Zummuratul
Islamiyyah Grammar School, Lagos, where he played alongside Haruna Ilerika, a
former Nigerian International player and won several laurels.
Although, Shotobi, unlike Ilerika, could not play football
as a career, he, however, recently demonstrated his undying passion for the
game with the acquisition of a female football team known as Ayeloja football
club.
Through the team, which is now known as Kadesh Queens
football Club, Shotobi has indeed achieved what he could not as an active footballer,
considering the sterling successes attained by the team within its short time
of establishment.
With the moral and financial backing of Shotobi, the team
has participated in three competitions so far, namely IBILE Games in Lagos,
Glorious Women Super Cup in Abeokuta and Olori Muheebat Oyefusi Female Football
completion in Ikorodu, winning the first two tournaments and came fourth at the
third competition, where they also won the fairplay award.
The team has, however, through dint of hardwork and Shotobi’s
support, qualified to play in the Nigeria Female National League and
preparations are in top gear to ensure that the team excel in the competition
and gain promotion into the Female Division One league.
Recently, the team and its technical crew led by the coach,
Idris Agbaje, paid a courtesy visit to Shotobi at his residence at 32, Mabadeje
street, Lowa Estate, Ikorodu, during which they presented the trophy they won at the Glorious Women
Soccer Golden Cup in Abeokuta to him and equally thanked him for his support.
The young girls, who wore blue and white jersey and also
displayed medals won at Abeokuta and IBILE Games, were brimming with joy all
through.
Meanwhile, coach Agbaje in his address, thanked Shotobi for
his massive support, which he described as the pillar behind the successes
recorded by the team so far and assured him of the readiness of the players to
continue to justify his huge investment on the team.
He equally apologized for coming fourth at the Olori
Muheebat Oyefusi Female Football competition, citing fatigue suffered by the
players at both the competitions in Abeokuta and IBILE games as reason for
their unimpressive performance.
And while informing Shotobi on the qualification of Kadesh
Queens to play in the National League, Coach Agbaje implored him to assist in
procuring a camp site for the team in order to enable the players to stay
together and train properly for the tournament.
The coach also begged the team's sponsor for medical
treatment for injured players as well as effective transportation arrangement
to facilitate the movement of the team during the National league and other
competitions.
Odofin of Ikorodu, in his response, commended the players
and their coaches for their sterling performances and winning mentality, which he said, had
enabled them to win two out of the three tournaments they participated in.
He promised the players to continue to support the team with
all the resources available to him to enable them develop their talents and
skills towards attaining greater success in the game both as individuals on and
as a team.
Shotobi urged the players not to lose focus on their
education, adding that it will enable them, particular those who would not
eventually make it as professional footballers, to have something they can fall
back on. He, however, promised to give them necessary assistance in their
education pursuit.
He also advised them to remain united and listen to their
coaches in order to attain further glory.
On the requests of the team, Shotobi explained that though
he has not been able to meet the demands of the team due to some constraints,
he however promised to do everything within his capacity to address the demands
as soon as possible.
To this end, he urged the coach to forward to him all the
necessary information about the players and the technical crew as well as
logistics on competitions to enable him make proper arrangements that will
further improve the welfare and performance of the team.
The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of the trophy
to Shotobi by the captain of the team, Ayedun Omolola while other players and
the coaches sang praise songs to appreciate their sponsor.
Chief Shotobi later presented a cash reward to the team in
appreciation of their performance at the Olori Muyeebat Oyefusi female football
competition and also gave a cash gift to the captain of the team, whose
birthday coincided with the courtesy visit.
Meanwhile, in a brief interview with Oriwu Sun, Shotobi
explained that he accepted to sponsor the team because of his passion for
sports and more importantly, to create a platform for the girls to engage
themselves meaningfully rather than involving in social vices.
On how to sustain the team, he re-emphasized his resolve to
use every resources available to him to take the team to greater height, adding
that he will rely more on God to successfully cater for the needs of the team.
And while expressing optimism that sport will attain further
development in Ikorodu considering its ever increasing population, Shotobi
berated the state government for not investing enough money into sports
development in Ikorodu and however requested for the provision of stadium and
other necessary sports facilities in the town that will enable the people,
especially the youths, to develop their sporting talents.
Also, while speaking briefly with our reporter, the captain
of the team, Ayedun Omolola, thanked Shotobi for what he has been doing for the
team since accepting its sponsorship.
She explained that the kind of support and advice she and her
mates receives from Shotobi have given them the hope of achieving their
ambition of becoming successful professional footballers in no distant future.
The captain, while expressing her joy over Kadesh Queens'
qualification to play in the national league, said the team would leave no
stone unturned in order to be at their best when the tournament commences so as
to gain promotion to the Nigerian female division one league.
She urged other wealthy and well meaning Nigerians to
emulate Shotobi by investing in female football development to enable
prospective female footballers to develop their talents and skills and also
realize their dreams of playing professional football.
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