Professor Akin Oyebode Cup 2024
… Democratising opportunities
INTRODUCTION
The Professor Akin Oyebode U-15 Football Competition tagged; PROF. AKIN OYEBODE CUP was birthed in the year 2020. It was established as a platform to discover and identify young football talents in Ekiti State.
The competition was held in 2021 and 2022, quickly becoming a premier platform in South West Nigeria for young players to showcase their skills and get scouted.
The competition has a proven track record of success, with previous editions producing exceptional players.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the competition are to:
- Discover and develop young football talents in Ekiti State
- Provide a platform for players to showcase their skills and gain exposure
- Promote football development in the state
- Encourage sportsmanship and healthy competition among young players
- Encourage equal opportunities for boys and girls
- Advance the creative nexus between education and sports
- Foster grassroots engagement
BENEFITS OF PROF. AKIN OYEBODE CUP
As we look to the future, it is critical to build on the competition’s previous successes and extend its impact even further. The Prof. Akin Oyebode Cup has produced numerous impacts on the youthful and sports loving community in Ekiti, including:
Talented boys and girls have been unearthed from the competition
The student-athletes and their peers have been productively engaged
All participants have been taught the importance of education and teamwork using the play way method
More talented footballers are expected to be discovered for development and scholarship opportunities.
New generation of referees have been trained
Young football administrators were given a platform for growth
Promotion of community involvement and engagement
Attracting positive recognition for Ekiti State in the social-cultural, sports and youth development sector
Numbers
An average of two hundred (200) young football officials and administrators and more than five thousand (5,000) students are engaged yearly during the period of the competition, attracting more than ten thousand (10,000) audience at match venues and across social media.
Products
The competition has a rich history of success, with previous editions producing exceptional players who have gone on to achieve great things in their football careers. Some notable examples include:
- Muiz Oladimeji: Muiz is currently playing for Beyond Limits Football Academy, Ikenne, Ogun State and was part of the Nigeria National U- 17 team at the WAFU B Tournament. He has also enjoyed significant success with Beyond Limits FA, winning the NNL 2023/2024 League and gaining promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League.
- Uche Chinonso: From scoring goals in the Prof. Akin Oyebode Cup to trialing for the English Champions, Manchester City’s Academy. He was top scorer in the 2021 edition.
- Olatunji Olamilekan: He has transitioned from being a star of the Prof. Akin Oyebode Cup to making significant contributions in a top club like Beyond Limits FA in Ikenne, Ogun State winning the State FA Cup.
- Abass Olasunkanmi: A former top talent of the Prof. Akin Oyebode Cup, where he captained Aiyekire/Gbonyin Local Football Council to 3rd place in the last edition of the competition. He later moved to Beyond Limits FA and captained the U-15 and U-17 teams of the club to numerous titles including the NPFL U-15 championships.
- Marvellous Olatunji: The promising young female talent inked a two-year sponsorship deal with African sportswear manufacturing giant, Owusports. She also played for Ekiti Queens Football Club – Fayoke Akinola and Paschaline Adelabu were part of Ekiti State FA Cup 2022 Ekiti Queens’ side Several others are developing with academies and youth teams across Nigeria.
- Fayoke Akinola and Paschaline Adelabu were part of Ekiti State FA Cup 2022 Ekiti Queens’ side
Several others are developing with academies and youth teams across Nigeria.
THE 2024 EDITION
In a quest to continue the far reaching tradition of discovering talents across the all corners, of all Local Football Councils (LFCs) in the state, all the 16 of them will be encouraged to present a team to participate in the state championship.
– Groupings
For the purpose of fairness and cost effectiveness in transportation, we suggest that the Local Football Councils be grouped as follows:
Group A
Ado zone – coordinated by Mr Temitope Olaifa
- Ikere LFC
- Eksw LFC
- Ijero LFC
- Ikole LFC
Group B
Ijero zone – coordinated by Mr Sanmi Adebomi
- Ado LFC
- Efon LFC
- Ekw
- Ilejemeje LFC
Group C
Ikere Zone – coordinated by Mr Femi Adewunmi
- Aiyekire LFC
- Emure LFC
- Irepodun LFC
- Ise LFC
Group D
Ikole Zone- coordinated by Mr Deji Aladesiun
- Ekiti East LFC
- Ido /Osi LFC
- Moba LFC
- Oye LFC
PROPOSED DATES
Starting with an opening match on Saturday Sept. 14th, 2024, matches are to be played on Fridays and Sundays from the following weekend.
Group games in all four centers.
GAME DAYS
Opening event – Saturday Sept. 7, 2024
Friday, Sept. 13, 2024
Sunday, Sept.15, 2024
Friday, Sept. 20, 2024
The girls participants are projected to join from the quarter final stage
Quarter final – Friday Sept. 27, 2024
Semi final – Sunday Sept. 29, 2024
Third place and final Saturday Oct. 5, 2024
FINAL
The final is proposed tol take place on the 5th October, 2024 at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti. It will be a colourful event, guests and officials are expected to be adorned in event top and cap and the players are to go home with top quality medals and outstanding players receiving cash prizes.
STAKEHOLDER’S ANALYSIS
The event is purposefully designed to engage the football ecosystem and other key political and societal stakeholders:
- Sponsors/Investors: Honourable Akintunde Oyebode and the Professor Akin Oyebode family.
- Any other contributor will be at their prerogative.
KET RESOURCES REQUIRED:
- Sponsors: we require the sponsors to provide funds and goodwill
- Government: The government through the office of the TA Sports is required to provide government auspices & endorsement as well as accessibility to match venues.
- Nigeria Football Federation: endorsement from the Ekiti State Football Association as well as collaborating for top-tier technical support and event coordination.
- Media: The previous editions of the Prof Akin Oyebode Competition received significant media coverage, further amplifying its reach and impact. The competition was prominently featured across various media platforms, including local newspapers, radio stations, and social media channels, resulting in heightened public interest and engagement. The extensive media coverage not only provided exposure for the participating players but also contributed to the overall promotion of football in Ekiti State.
- Organizers: Supervised by Phoenix Athletics Sports Limited, there is a need for an organising committee and subcommittees, featuring the representatives of the Sponsor, the FA.
