By Babatunde Kaka
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the President of Epe Ogunmodede Club, Barrister Omodele Ibrahim, and his counterpart, Lawyer Tunde Seriki, led the Epe Ogunmodede Football Team to victory during the Epe Kayokayo 2022 novelty match.
This online media platform recalls that before the novelty match, both club Presidents had engaged in a fierce supremacy battle, bragging over whose team was going to win the match.
Epe Ogunmodede displayed a high level of preparedness and a winning mentality by arriving at the Senator Tokunbo Abiru Mini Stadium fully prepared and ready to sting their opponents as a bee, as the duo of the legal luminaries stormed the field, joggling the ball to register the team’s fitness for the game.
The novelty match, which was kicked off by Oba Dr Shefiu Adewale, the Olu-Epe of the Epe Kingdom who was represented by the Seriki of Epe Kingdom, High Chief Muniru Badru, was officiated by members of the Referees Association led by Mr Ajagbe.
Before the kick-off, the Coordinator of Epe Kayokayo 2022, the Aremo of Epe Kingdom, Otunba TJ Abass, underscored the significance of the novelty match, stressing that both football and Kayokayo festival have a common goal; the exhibition of youthful talents, the promotion of peace and unity and the socio-economic emancipation of the people.
Barrister Omodele Ibrahim and Barrister Tunde Seriki combined so well in the first half with exhilarating pieces of skills, including free kicks which mesmerised the opposition defence on several occasions. However, their team was unable to hit the target after missing a handful of chances and fell a goal down to Epe Club.
High Chief Muniru Badru, the Seriki of Epe Kingdom with High Chief Kadri Odedeogboro, the Otun Seriki of Epe Kingdom and other Chiefs at the match venue.
The jubilation in the camp of the Epe Club led by Engineer Ogunsanya, Prince Adeyemi Ogunlari and Mr Adebayo Faisu Edu became short-lived as Epe Ogunmodede Club equalized.
Inspired by the President-General’s tactical plans, and coaching techniques from the sidelines, even the spectators were shocked as the titanic battle began to rain in goals with a 2-1 lead.
Barrister Omodele Ibrahim, Epe Ogunmodede Club President-General.
Consolidating on the lead, the Epe Ogunmodede team intensified their build-up play from the back with embarrassing long balls and passes reminiscent of the tiki-taka style of the Pep Guardiola-led FC Barcelona.
It wasn’t too long before the tactical switch paid off as the Epe Club team struggled to gain possession and as a result, were forced to make costly mistakes that unlocked the third and 4th goals before the final whistle sounded.
This led to the entire stadium erupting into deafening jubilation for victory, and earned the duo of Barristers Seriki & Omodele the bragging rights and banters.
Uncomfortable with the banters, the trio of Engineer Ogunsanya, Prince Adeyemi Ogunlari and Mr Adebayo Faisu Edu disclosed that the contest was deliberately lost to honour the newly-elected President-General of Epe Ogunmodede Club, Barrister Omodele Ibrahim.
Reacting to the development, Otunba TJ Abass, who had earlier run to the goal post of Epe Club in celebration of the 2-1 lead, described the contest as a true clash of the titans.
Epe Kayokayo 2022 Committee members, Mr Faisu Edu, Alhaji Bajulaye Shasi and Alhaja Olushola Alade Raji in a group picture with TJ Abass after the match.
He noted that the contest lived up to its billing and therefore declared that there was neither a Victor nor vanquished side, adding that the spirit of sportsmanship had prevailed.
See more pictures from the novelty match:
Otunba TJ Abass, Epe Kayokayo 2022 Coordinator.
The Epe Referee Association members in a group picture with Epe Kayokayo 2022 committee members.
Epe Referee Association Chairman, Mr Saheed Ajagbe at the match venue.
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