The maiden edition of the Peller Unity Cup wrapped up on Thursday August the 17th in grand style at the NYSC orientation camp, Iseyin, Oyo State.
The competition was organised by Chief Abiola Peller of Aquila Group to immortalise and celebrate the 20 years remembrance of Late Professor Abiola Peller, a renowned magician and entertainer.
20 teams from 10 local government areas of the Oke-Ogun axis, hometown of the late magic icon, vied for the trophy and five hundred thousand Naira cash prize.
The teams include Iseyin United, Iseyin City, Kajola Blues, Kajola Villa, Itesiwaju Rangers, Itesiwaju Lions, Oorelope Gunners, Oorelope City, Irepo United, Irepo Lions, Olorunsogo Warriors and Olorunsogo Boys.
Iseyin United defeated Iseyin City 2-0 to lift the Peller unity trophy and walk home with a cash prize of five hundred thousand Naira. Iseyin City went home with Three hundred thousand Naira and third place winners Saki-West Rovers took home One hundred and fifty thousand Naira.
Ridwan Ayaka of Saki-West Rovers won the golden boot award and a cash prize of Fifty thousand Naira after scoring 3 goals in the competition, while Yekeen Afeez Adefabi of Kajola Villa took home the MVP award and a cash prize of Fifty thousand Naira.
In the third place match, Saki-West Rovers defeated a resilient Irepo United 8-7 on penalties to place third. Coach of Irepo United, Tiamiyu Lukman Garba blamed the defeat on the failure of his boys to convert their chances whilst also saying Saki-West Rovers were lucky.
“We had issues in our striking department, and that led to our inability to get goals in regulation time. Penalties are based on luck, so Saki-West Rovers were simply lucky with their penalties,” he said.
He hailed Chief Shina Peller for the initiative to bring a competition of this magnitude to the youths of Oke-Ogun.
“We have not had an atmosphere like this in about 15 years. We appreciate Shina Peller for bringing this to the youths of this community,” he concluded.
An elated Shina Peller expressed his happiness at the turnout and success of the competition.
“I never envisaged the turnout to be this large, I am very happy and I want to appreciate our Royal fathers who came out to support me, I appreciate the artistes and the footballers,” he said.
He said that the competition which was aimed at discovering talents, empowering the youths, and promoting unity amongst diverse communities while fostering development in the Oke-Ogun region will be an annual event.
“The competition will be a yearly event, and one of the reasons I got the Oyo state government involved is to create structure to determine the team to represent Oke-Ogun in the Oyo state league starting soon. For now will be continue with football because we don’t want to disrupt a working structure. This is the beginning of the things I will do in the Oke-Ogun region of Oyo state,” he concluded.
Pictures from the closing event:
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