By Seyifunmi Odunuga
Lawal Khalid of Ansardeen High School, Liberty Road Ibadan and Mariam Abdulwahid of RACBAR Academy have emerged winners in male and female categories respectively during the Kayrom Lee Under-16 Anniversary Squash Tournament that ended over the weekend inside the squash hall of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
Amuda Teslim of Adem Group of Schools finished as runners-up while Olajuyigbe Joshua of Celestial High School Oke-Ado, Ibadan came second runners-up, and Karima Abdullateef of RACBAR Academy ended as runners-up in the female category.
FIFA and CAF advisor, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde who was one of the dignitaries that graced the event commended the CEO of Kayrom Lee, Amb. Romoke Ayinde, who organized a squash competition to mark the 13th year’s anniversary of collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development in promoting grassroots sports.
The Modakeke High Chief described Amb. Ayinde has just been appointed as the Mother of Sports in Oyo State by the Oyo State Government as a God sent to save the grassroots sports in Oyo State, considering her numerous efforts geared towards reviving grassroots sports.
“Amb Romoke Ayinde is the only person I have seen that is running a free sports’ academy in my more than 60 years in the sporting business. She established a free RACBAR Academy which formed from the acronyms of ‘racket, balls, aquatic and ring’ to cater for less privileged children. This indeed is a commendable gesture towards saving our sports at the grassroots”, said Onigbinde.
Also commending the RACBAR boss was a renowned journalist and the former spoke’s person of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Dr Festus Adedayo who said Amb Ayinde recommended the game of squash to him about 11 years ago, and since that he can’t resist the urge playing it, because is a game that is very good for all round physical fitness of the body, as it involved high mental alertness.
“What Amb Romoke Ayinde is doing is an intervention that deserves international recognition. I’m not a sports person before, but since I tried my hands on squash, I have found it to be a great game which I always love to play leisurely despite of my busy schedule, because it as give me greater self-confidence and self-esteem”, said – Dr Festus Adedayo, whose son of Katrine International School also took part in the tourney.
Amb. Romoke Ayinde in her speech during the closing ceremony thanked all and sundry that have contributed to the success of the anniversary celebration, while pledging to continue in taking squash awareness campaign to secondary schools and tertiary institution in both state and national level so as to erase the wrong notion that the game in exclusively for the rich.
“We shall continue to often organize more of this competition not only among professionals but within secondary schools and tertiary institutions, besides, tournament aspect of the game of squash is also being played for health reasons, a round of game of squash daily will increase life span of an individual, provided other nutritional rules are being observed”, Kayrom Lee boss noted.
Dignitaries present are Chief Adegboye Onigbide, former Commissiner for Youths and sports, oyo state, Barr. Yomi Oke, Hon. Gbenga Opaleye, Dr. Festus Adedayo and host of others.
Cutting of the cake was performed by Motunrayo Awoyomi and vote of thwas anks done by Lanre Agiri.
The event was covered by Apreel1 Events Tv.
