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The Chief Executive Officer of Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort and Jagun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Chief Dotun Sanusi, has hailed his victorious team, Ilaji F.C., for beating hard-fighting Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) to emerge as champions of the Oyo State FA Cup.
At the end of the tension-soaked match played at the maibowl of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, and watched by a capacity crowd of football enthusiasts, the NLO side, Ilaji F.C., displayed quality football artistry to the consternation of the pundits who had predicted a win for 3SC.
The Coach Babatunde Odubola-led boys beat high-flying Shooting Stars on penalty to win their maiden state FA Cup title. The two teams had played 3-3 at the regulation time before the match was decided via penalty shootout which ended 5-4 in favour of Ilaji F.C.
Reacting, Sanusi the owner of the Club who is known for his untiring efforts at discovering talents at his renowned Ilaji Sports Centre, described the victory as commendable and inspiring for his boys.
“I am happy our Team, Ilaji F.C. made us proud by emerging victorious in this year’s FA Cup. They have been appearing at the FA finals before now, but somehow they have emerged runners-up. But today, we are the champions.
“The coach, Babatunde Odubola, all the technical team and coaching crew including supporting staff and the players themselves deserve our special appreciation. They have done us proud and our efforts on the team are yielding fruits.
“It is a day to remember for good; not only that today is Easter Sunday when all of us are celebrating our Lord Jesus Christ, it is also a day in history that would go down as a watershed one for Ilaji F.C.
“Special thanks to the officials of today’s match and our supporters across the length and breadth of Ibadan land and beyond. Shooting Stars is also my darling team as a major stakeholder in sports development in Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.
“There is no victor and no vanguish. It is all for football development. God bless everyone who made this possible for us. We will continue to contribute our quota towards the development of our youths and general wellbeing of our dear state,” Sanusi said.
While the match lasted, Shooting Stars opened the scoring through Pepo in the 14th minute while Babalola Okikiola equalised for the NLO side in the 30th minute.
Okikiola got his second goal of the game two minutes later to give Ilaji F.C. the lead as the first half ended 2-1.
Shooting Stars captain, Taofeek Malomo, equalizsed for the Oluyole Warriors in the 63rd minute.
Babalola Okikiola completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute to give Ilaji F.C. the lead once again. But Ayobami Junior ensured the lead was short-lived by scoring a stunner in the 70th minute as both teams settled for a 3-3 draw in regulation time.
Ilaji FC secured the hard-fought victory by winning 5-4 after a penalty shootout to make the day a memorable one in the history of the club.
Both teams will represent Oyo State at the National Federation Cup later in the year.