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BY ABU-SATAR HAMED
ILARO-YEWA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA – The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Dr. Mikhail Akinde, on Saturday, January 25, 2025, demonstrated his unparalleled skills in the game of ping pong when he emerged as the overall winner of the coveted cup of the prestigious Adele Olu Ilaro Table Tennis Competition.
The tournament, organized by the Table Tennis Section of the Recreation Club, Ilaro, brought together skilled players in a highly competitive showdown.
Winners at the competition were Dr. Mikhail Akinde (1st), Mr. Shola Ojo (2nd), Otunba Idowu Onifade (3rd), and Alhaji Lamidi Elegbede (4th).
The event, which kicked off behind schedule due to unforeseen circumstances, was declared open by Mr. Kayode Salako; President of the Club, after members of the club rendered the club’s anthem.
In his opening speech, Salako thanked High Chief Abiodun Ilo, the sponsor of the tournament, and others who supported the competition in various ways.
He also commended the Sports Director of the club, Chief Ganiyu Salako, the Mayegun of Ajiyan, and his committee for the superb organization of the tournament.
The RCI President took the opportunity to inform members that the club’s Grand Patron, Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Olugbenle, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, had given his Lawn Tennis Court to the Recreation Club, Ilaro, to practice and hold competitions.
He further disclosed that the Asoju Olu of Ilaro, Chief Mufutau Olabimtan, had volunteered to sponsor a Lawn Tennis Competition for members of RCI at the court.
Salako thanked all participants in the game, especially the overall winner, Dr. M.A. Akinde, who, despite his tight schedule, found time to participate in the competition.
He also appreciated the second, third, and fourth winners, including those who were edged out during the preliminary stages of the competition.
The RCI boss extended special gratitude to Chief Mufutau Olabimtan and Dr. Akinde for providing entertainment that contributed to the success of the competition.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, TPL (Prince) Adebisi Tella reminisced about his earlier experiences with Dr. Akinde, recalling how they honed their table tennis skills at the former Egbado Recreation Club, Ilaro (now Recreation Club, Ilaro).
Tella thanked and commended the sponsor of the tournament and all those who contributed to its success, offering prayers for their continued blessings.
In his remarks, the Otun Baaroyin of Ilaro-Yewa, Elhadj (Otunba) Abu-Satar Idowu Hamed, expressed gratitude for witnessing the second edition of the competition, having missed the maiden edition.
Hamed, who had just returned from the United Kingdom, described the competition as an exercise that promotes good health.
The Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of StarTrend Int’l Magazine and online platform, Hamed, urged members of the club to engage in regular exercise through their preferred sports, emphasizing its health benefits.
He congratulated the sponsor and participants for their dedication and applauded everyone who facilitated the success of the event.
Pa Wole Owoseni while presenting the trophy to the fourth-place winner, Alhaji Ajani Elegbede, commended the sponsor, participants, and the president of the club for organizing an event that showcased camaraderie and unity from start to finish.
The renowned broadcaster and political/social analyst, who is also an octogenarian, urged members to stay active through sports to maintain their fitness and well-being.
The trophy for the third-place winner, Otunba Idowu Onifade, was presented by the Bobatolu of Ilaro-Yewa, Chief Shafarudeen Popoola, who also praised the sponsor and commended participants for their remarkable performances.
Similarly, Mr. Gori Adeyinka, an elder of the club, presented the trophy to the second-place winner, Mr. Shola Ojo.
Adeyinka congratulated all participants for their artistry and sportsmanship and prayed for continued blessings, good health, and long life for everyone.
In his brief remarks, Mr. Shola Ojo expressed gratitude for advancing from an unranked position in the maiden edition to securing second place in the second edition of the competition.
“I want to use this medium to urge other sections of sports in the club to come together and organize competitions like this while members emulate Chief ‘Biodun Ilo, the Adele Olu Ilaro, in sponsoring such programmes”, Ojo said enthusiastically.
The overall winner’s trophy was presented by the RCI president, Mr. Kayode Salako, who congratulated Dr. Akinde for his excellent performance and skill in table tennis.
Salako also praised Dr. Akinde for making time to participate despite his busy schedule. He further commended all participants for their remarkable display of sportsmanship.
Responding, the winner of the 2024 Adele Olu of Ilaro Table Tennis Competition, Dr. Akinde, expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to participate despite his tight schedule as Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro.
“I’m highly grateful for the opportunity, not only to participate but also to emerge as the overall winner of the competition”, Akinde said.
Dr. Akinde called on the Ogun State government to renovate and revive sporting activities at the Gateway Stadium, Ilaro, as a means to discourage youth from engaging in nefarious activities.
He remarked, “An idle hand is always the devil’s workshop”, noting that the stadium had been abandoned for years, becoming dilapidated and a haven for criminal activities.
The FPI Rector revealed that his love for table tennis dates back to his teenage years, when he trained in the sport at the local level.
“My involvement in table tennis from a young age has paid off because today, I have participated in local, state, and national competitions, winning several laurels,” Akinde shared.
He also thanked and commended the sponsor and organizers of the competition for their thoughtfulness and dedication.
Interestingly, the highly competitive tournament saw an unexpected shift in rankings, with two previous medalists from the maiden edition losing their top spots while two new players secured the 1st and 2nd positions.
The competition, which began with 10 participants, saw intense matches leading to the finals. The defending champion, Alhaji Lamidi Elegbede (Emperor), and other top players were seeded into the semi-finals, while the remaining eight players battled in knockout rounds.
Key matches leading up to the final included: Prince Bisi Tella walking out High Chief Biodun Ilo (Sponsor of the Tournament); Mr. Biodun Ogunbona defeated Alhaji Ganiyu Salako; Mr. Shola Ojo defeated Chief Mufutau Olabimtan (Asoju Olu of Ilaro); Otunba Idowu Onifade defeated Elder Niyi Ojo (Oyebee); Mr. Shola Ojo defeated Prince Bisi Tella and Otunba Idowu Onifade defeated Mr. Biodun Ogunbona.
Others were Mr. Shola Ojo defeated Alhaji Lamidi Elegbede (Emperor); Dr. Mikhail Akinde defeated Otunba Idowu Onifade; Otunba Idowu Onifade defeated Alhaji Lamidi Elegbede (Emperor) while Dr. Mikhail Akinde defeated Mr. Shola Ojo to claim the championship title in the final match of the competition.
The overall contestants were Elder Niyi Ojo, Chief Mufutau Olabimtan, Otunba Idowu Onifade, Dr. Mikhail Akinde, Prince Ajani Elegbede, Mr. Biodun Ogunbona, Prince Bisi Tella, Mr. Sola Ojo, Cniyu Salako, and Chief Biodun Ilo.
The action-packed competition was anchored by experienced sports administrators, including Prince Adeniyi Adewale, Chief Ganiyu Salako, and Mr. Biola, the umpire of the tournament.
It was indeed a time of relaxation and camaraderie for members of the club as the tournament concluded with an atmosphere of joy and celebration with great enthusiasm.
