EPE News
Kayokayo Festival: Epe Ogunmodede Club Defeats Epe Club In Thrilling Novelty Match
Eko Hot Blog reports that Epe Ogunmodede Club, on Monday, defeated Epe Club in a novelty match.
The novelty match was part of several events lined up to celebrate the 2023 Epe Kayokayo festival in Epe, Lagos State.
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The game, which ended 4-1 in favour of Epe Ogunmodede Club, took place at the Senator Adetokunbo Abiru stadium, LASU road, Epe.
The Epe Ogunmodede Club was represented by Jogbo Hameed (Captain), Demehin Remilekun (Goalkeeper), Bello Olatunji, Adeyemi Abiola, Azeez Muiz, Hassan Rasaq, Anifowoshe Olamilekan, Jogbo Abideen, Kekere-ekun Lawal, Lateef Ganiu, Ejike Opara, amongst others.
Barrister Babatunde Seriki (SAN), a member of Epe Ogunmodede Club, coached the team.
Epe Club’s starting lineup vs Epe Ogunmodede Club in the Kayokayo festival novelty match
On the other hand, Azeez Malik (Captain), Femi Adeleke (Goalkeeper), Giwa isiaka, Gbenga Martins, Rasheedi Giwa, Arashi Shefiu, Yomi ojo, Yusuf Tiamiu, Ismail Rasheed, Seun Opeleke, Abdulahi, amongst others, turned out for Epe Club, with Ajade Adebowale coaching the losing side.
Epe Ogunmodede club led only 15 minutes into the match, courtesy of a strike by Lawal. The team went into the halftime break with a goal lead.
An Epe Ogunmodede Club player flies away with the ball in the Kayokayo festival novelty match
The second half started after a 10-minute break and 10 minutes into the restart, Ganiu scored the second goal for the Epe Ogunmodede Club.
Eight minutes later, Olamilekan scored another goal, making it three goals to nil.
About 12 minutes after Epe Ogunmodede Club created a three-goal cushion, Epe Club pulled one back through their skipper, Malik, raising slim hopes of a comeback.
The Epe Kayokayo festival novelty match officials
However, as the match drew to a close, Lawal Lukman crushed any hopes of a comeback for Epe Club with Epe Ogunmodede Club’s fourth goal of the entertaining match.
Earlier, the coordinator of the Epe Kayokayo festival, Otunba TJ Abass, explained that the football match was a means of promoting unity and togetherness among the Epe people.
The Epe Kayokayo coordinator, Otunba TJ Abass, greeting Epe Club players
“It’s about team spirit and competitiveness, not about who wins or loses, but about working together to promote the spirit of sportsmanship amongst Epe citizens,” he said.
The Aremo of Epe kingdom noted that sports gives Epe citizens a sense of pride, particularly the players, as they reflect the spirit of an unbreakable team.
The Epe Kayokayo coordinator, Otunba TJ Abass, greeting Epe Ogunmodede Club players who won the Kayokayo festival novelty match
The Chairman of the novelty match, Hon. Muhammad Olusegun Agbaje, echoed Otunba Abass in his speech, saying the match was a means of unifying Epe community dwellers as well as promoting a peaceful community.
Hon. Agbaje, a former Chairman of Epe Local Government, noted that he expects the novelty match to bring the two clubs together and to show to the players as well as spectators, the kind of love that thrives among footballers all over the world.
He also urged young people to maintain the good spirits for the betterment of the people, the existence of Epe tradition, and the overall growth of Epe community at large.
Present at the novelty match were High Chief Adeniyi Kadiri Odedeogboro, (Balogun of Epe kingdom),who represented the His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr) Shefiu Adewale, the Olu-Epe of Epe kingdom, Hon. Muhammad Olusegun Agbaje aka Iderade, Alhaja Olushola Alade Raji, (Chairperson, Publicity Committee), and Otunba Abass (Chairman, planning committee), amongst others.
At the end of the match, the Olu-Epe’s representative, High Chief Odedeogboro, thanked the players and all who came to watch the match. He also congratulated both teams and encouraged them not to relent.
He especially encouraged the losing team, Epe Club, to work harder, to see that they do better next year.
Alhaja Raji also proposed that next year, other clubs should be invited to participate, and the organisers should make the competition in form of a league.
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High Chief Shobaloju, Saromi of Epe kingdom, subsequently led traditional rulers and others to the Marina waterfront to light the famous Etufu.
See more photos from the Kayokayo festival novelty match below:
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