Lawal Khalid of Ansardeen High School, Liberty Road, Ibadan, and Mariam Abdulwahid of RACBAR Academy emerged winners in male and female categories, respectively, during the Kayrom Lee Under-16 Anniversary Squash Tournament, which ended over the weekend inside the squash hall of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
Amuda Teslim of Adem Group of Schools finished as runners-up. At the same time, 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 among the dignitaries who graced the event, commended Kayrom Lee CEO Amb. Romoke Ayinde organized a squash competition to mark the 13th anniversary of collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in promoting grassroots sports.
The Modakeke High Chief described Amb. Ayinde, who has just been appointed as the Mother of Sports in Oyo State by the Oyo State Government, as a God-sent to save grassroots sports in Oyo State, considering her numerous efforts to revive grassroots sports.
“Amb Romoke Ayinde is the only person I have seen running a free sports’ academy in my more than 60 years in the sporting business. She established a free RACBAR Academy formed from the acronyms of ‘racket, balls, aquatic and ring’ to cater to 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. 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 who contributed to the success of the anniversary celebration while pledging to continue the squash awareness campaign in secondary schools and tertiary institutions at the state and national levels so as to erase the wrong notion that the game is exclusively for the rich.
“We shall continue to organize more of this competition not only among professionals but within secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Besides, the tournament aspect of the game of squash is also being played for health reasons. A round of squash daily will increase an individual’s life span, provided other nutritional rules are observed,” Kayrom Lee’s boss noted.
Dignitaries present are Chief Adegboye Onigbide, former Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Oyo State, Barr. Yomi Oke, Hon. Gbenga Opaleye, Dr. Festus Adedayo, and a host of others.
Cutting the cake was performed by Motunrayo Awoyomi and vote of thanks done by Lanre Agiri.
