Governor Oyebanji, 'the fortress' behind Team Ekiti' historic performance in Asaba

...Plans big for the next edition, eyes podium finish 

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Asaba 

  

  

  

The Technical Advisor on Sports Development to the Governor of Ekiti, Dr. Olusola Osetoba, says His Excellency, Governor Oyebanji, is the fortress and foundation behind the history-making outing of Team Ekiti at the 9th National Youth Games ongoing in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Dr. Osetoba made this statement in an exclusive interview on Thursday with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye, following Team Ekiti's stunning victory in the basketball event at the games.

She explained that the transformation which has taken place in the Land of Honour and Integrity as the state is passionately called, helped the team to prepare fully for the Games.

Dr. Olusola Osetoba further explained that the new facilities helped the state to select young athletes to represent Ekiti through secondary school games held at the new sports facilities built by the sports-loving Governor.

“All our athletes are under 15, they are not above the age mark, their look alone speaks volumes of their young age, we did not buy athletes to compete for us. Other states might purchase players, or field overaged athletes, but ours was homegrown,” she expressed.

Among these new sporting facilities was an ultramodern basketball court which spurred the state's basketball team to secure a historic gold medal in the slamming and dunking game at the Games.

“Since the emergence of his Excellency, he constructed a basketball court for the state, since then we have been training, practicing. This is the reason we won gold today, before we were using an ancient upright, so the difference is clear now, I am assured that His Excellency will be thrilled to hear that we won the basketball event, because he is an ardent lover of basketball.

“I'm very elated, I'm overwhelmed with joy, this is the first time, we have won the basketball event,” she explained.

She emphasized that this only the fringes of the record-breaking and history-making performances the State Team will produce in the next edition.

“We will not relent, we will continue to train these children, we are doing a developmental program in Ekiti, we will compete in the next edition with a stronger team, we will fly our flag high in Lagos, these young athletes, around the ages of 9 to 11 will have become stronger by then,” she stated.

The Technical Advisor, had some delightful words for the Ekiti state Governor, calling on other states of the federation to emulate his example.

“I want to thank the Governor for his unwavering and undeniable support towards sports, financially and morally, he has been a father to sports, he's a sports loving governor, persons like him are very rare, he has transformed every facet of sports in the state.” 

Under the stewardship of His Excellency Governor Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji, Ekiti State has been blessed with these new facilities:

✓ Brand new Coaster busses

✓ New hostels for our football clubs

✓ Renovation of Oluyomi Kayode Stadium

✓ Construction of admin blocks

✓ A new multi-purpose sports hall