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L-R: Rep. Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Secretary General, Mr. Mohammed Ameenu; President, Africa Students Football Union (ASFU), Prof. Seun Omotayo; Awardee, Mr. Olushola Ogunnowo and CEO, Sport Nigeria, Ms. Nkechi Obi and Ex International/ ASFU ambassador, Prince Peter Rufai at the event.
By Bolaji Olasunkanmi
Sports personalities recently converged on Lagos to deliberate on the activities of the Africa Students Football Union (ASFU) in the outgone year, it’s aspiration for the future as well as the presentation of the Recognition of Essence Africa award to deserving Illustrious personalities at a Stakeholders Forum.
While delivering his speech, President of ASFU, Prof. Oluwaseun O Omotayo reeled told stakeholders that ASFU successfully organised the maiden edition of the ASFU Cup among tertiary Institutions on the continent the second edition is scheduled at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya where Lagos State University shall defend it’s title as the Best Football University in Africa.
L-R: Rufai; Omotayo; Ogunnowo; Director, Technical, Lagos State Sports Commission, Olumide Travih and Executive Secretary ASFU, Mr. Femi Abioye at the event.
Omotayo added that as an organisation dedicated to the Town and Gown Philosophy, ASFU seeks to develop students through the prism of football arrangements and have reached advanced stage for the construction of a Football Development Center at the Lagos State University.
However, he appealed to Football Stakeholders and particularly the Nigeria Football Federation to establish the Football Welfare Fund as an inbuilt mechanism for the care of Nigerian Football icons and particularly those of them that are suffering from degenerative ailments.
Omotayo specifically mentioned Peter Fregene a one- time Nigeria Goalkeeper who in advanced age is not in good health.
Omotayo said: “As an organisation that is particularly interested in Football, ASFU is ready to deploy it’s expertise to join hands with the NFF to have an in- built mechanism that ensures that footballers- past and present are well taken care of such that when we see them, our children would be happy to toe their footsteps “.
A cross section of guests at the event.
The ASFU President also used the occasion to thank the union’s Patron, Hon. Kunle Soname for showing support that made the ASFU Cup 1 very successful as he assisted in cash and materials, Similarly, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, has been supporting ASFU financially, Director, Legal Service, ASFU, Barr. Wale Adekola who did the registration of ASFU for free, Chairman Board of Advisors, Dr. Solomon Alao, is always there for ASFU just as he thanked all stakeholders in Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa and the ASFU Vice President/ DVC, Kenyatta UniversityNairobi, Kenya, Prof. Vincent Onywera,Executive Secretary of ASFU, Femi Abioye, Olumide Travih, Sola Ogunnowo amongst others in ensuring prompt responses to the development of ASFU, A minute silence was observed in honor of the late King of Football Pele and former Vice President of ASFU, Prof. Mwisukha Andanje.
Abioye did a slide presentation of the ASFU activities for the outgone 2022 and year 2023 respectively while the ASFU 2023 Recognition of Essence Award as the 2022 Africa Football Administrator, was presented to Mr. Sola Ogunnowo by Omotayo who extolled the awardee’s virtues.
