~IYALE PROMINENT INDIGENES FEATURED IN A SOLIDARITY NOVELTY MATCH OFFICIALLY OPENED BY CHIEF PAUL GOWON IDRIS HARUNA

 

The right, good and positive sense of cultural  tolerance that is generally accepted given it's capability of leading to a personal and collective expressions of love for strong and impactful peaceful co-existence among people of common origin and orientation was yesterday decently achieved in Iyale through a novelty match that encapsulated symbolic sociocultural integration and interaction principles. 

The spirits of brotherhood and sportmanship were demonstrated by the Oldtimers and the young footballers in Iyale. Such approach can   be said to be the best solidarity instrument acceptable anywhere in the world.

 Undoubtfully, Iyale is a strategic and respected model that engender arena for interpersonal relationships for an agelong symbolic cultural interactions as usually witnessed across diverse backgrounds.

 The football field at Ate Ojuwo in Iyale community was yesterday dotted with beehives of activities marked by the magnificent rolling  of the 'round leather game' from it's resting position to a more widely opened arena of a football field located at the notable, agelong primary school at the Ate-Ojuwo Primary   school in Iyale. 

The Ogba Dancing Group led by Gowon Majuli was there for the purpose of cultural entertainment.

The Onu Iyale; Mallam Idris Wada Akogu left   his palace without wearing the revered traditional regalia and got himself humbly and decently dressed in the multicoloured Jersey worn by the oldtimers in order to honour all the rest of the footballers fetched from the old timers and the AjekoTeam. 

This Iyale highly known monarch moreso as an experienced long throwing expert and team player during his youthful days also witnessed the glowing opening ceremony where the 2023 Dekina-Bassa Federal House of Rep candidate under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Paul Gowon Idris Haruna happily kicked-started the novelty match  amidst funfares and delightfulness.

It was condescendingly amazing seeing men  like; Our goal keeper; Barrister Benjamin Igbadi; who as a Lawyer, moreso a spectacular judge; Dr. Zakari  Usman also hung his stethoscope as an undeniable Honourable Commissioner for Ministry of health, Professor Joshua Okpanachi as an excellent academia in the field of Accounting and Finance left the lecture room without pride after bagging the recognitions of being the first rated Professor of Accounting   and Finance in Africa and moreso the number Ten Accounting and Finance Professor in the world,;  A Custom Officer Mr. Benjamin Ayeh and NSCDC Boss; Mr. Isaac Ocholi who both as seniorly ranked Paramilitary officers hung their  their uniforms with the ranks,; A Business Icon in the person of Ogwu Umar Onekutu also left his businesses;  Mr. Abubakar Sadiq Ejigbo as a cheerful and fulfilling DSTV and Home Tv' Consultant, A Masterclass International Actor of note, Mr. Thomas Makolo,; Mr. Steve Adah Amedu who as an all time football entertaining and consistent dribbler, left his job;, The Honourable Councillor representing Iyale Ward; Hon. Achile  Salihu and countless others; swallowed their personal and collective prides, joyously got kitted into the dressings of footballers in order to entrench values and expand seamless community ambience for lasting unity, solidarity and peaceful co-existence.

The above mentioned personalities played as  the old timers. They locked horns with the   Ajeko Football Team in a crushing encounter.

 The first goal came during the 33:08 minutes of the first half. 

It was conceded by Professor Joshua Okpanachi through a penalty kick. This first goal through a penalty kick by Professor Joshua got the field more enthralling and lively with the thunderous applause from the spectators for the one and only Professor of Accounting and Finance in the game. Some viewers were seen jumping into the tin air in celebration moods, with the shouting  of the names and the aliases of the first scorer; as  Lato! Lato!! Lato!!! during the first half after starting the game.

The current Honourable Commissioner for The Kogi state Ministry of Health, Dr. Zakari Usman scored another two goals; first through a  penalty kick while the second one was while some of the players of the old timers and the defenders of Ajeko Team were running towards the goal post area of the younger players, something which will be described by the football analyst as 'rare magic' as witnessed and recorded during the novelty match. 

 The fourth one was an 'own goal' recorded for senior team as a result of slight mistake from one of the players of the Ajeko Team.

The game ended in 4-0. 

The Old timers scored 4 goals while the Ajeko Team was nill.

The great organizer and a football enthusiast; Engr. Emmanuel Omede was on ground too; having invested heavily on the Jersey used for the football ceremony with the name of his company as "Dove Homes LTD"  engraved on the Jersey.

Prominent Indigenes there while the novelty game lasted are; Bishop Elect. Sunday Akpa, Mr. Eleojo Jonathan Onekutu, Mr. Fred Zakari, Mr. Danladi Jibrin, Mr. Salisu Momosobo, Mr. Ife Ilani, Mr. Shaibu Idris Mandilly, Alhaji Paul Amaru Shakur and others.

Iyale is one of the oldest settlements in Igala kingdom with the plethora of cultural and traditional heritage sites existing for years  which when strategically and monumentally exploited would create new national and international frontiers for revenue generations. Many prominent sons and daughters of Iyale as  as an important part of Dekina LGA in Kogi   state had in the past and currently through   rare spirits of self confidence, intelligence and pragmatism added alot to the Igala kingdom   and the nation at large; mostly along the historical lines of traditional leadership and other areas of human endeavours.  

      Iyale in the olden days without been showcased or known on the world map around the 18 century was visited by Missionaries from the distant land across the sea. 

       Iyale indigenes of the past in their usual receptive and accommodative spirits gave her two distant, opposite and overlooking hills to foreign, white and Christian missionaries for the Establishments of their memorial Hospital and residential quarters. These outlined projects have outlived their founders into The General Hospital and Special School today.

More memorable episodes witnessed on the field while the game lasted shall be in our subsequent bulletins by his grace. 

Written By; Odaudu Wada Isah,

Follow us at the following for more update news;

-(The Ototonobinews.com ).

-(The Ototonobi Reporters).

-(The Ototonobi Engineering Without Borders).

-(The Ototonobi News Planets).

-(Power Edge Engineering).

-(theototonobinewsplanets.blogspot.com).

1:18am | December 27, 2022.