In a historic gathering at Lekan Salami Stadium on Sunday, former professional footballers from Ibadan, both home and abroad, reunited for a novelty match to launch a grassroots football revival initiative.
The event saw legendary players including Mutiu Adepoju, Dimeji Lawal, Ike Shorunmu, Edith Agoye, and Femi Opabunmi return to the pitch, with many traveling from the UK, USA, and other countries to participate.
Temitope Obideyi, Chairman of the Ibadan Ex-Professional Footballers Association, told Boluwaji Ogunmola that the initiative’s goal to rediscover and nurture young talents across Oyo State. “About 90% of talented players come from poor backgrounds,” Obideyi stated. “We want to find them, support their football careers, and ensure they receive quality education.” The association plans to organize a statewide secondary school tournament to scout promising players.
The event, supported by the Oyo State Government and Football Association, featured an awards ceremony recognizing key contributors to football development. Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, Sports Commissioner Wasilat Adegoke, and Otunba Seye Famojuro received Awards of Excellence for their support. Grassroots coaches were also honored for their decades of talent discovery and development.
Notable ex-ibadan professional players including Ike Shorunmu, Dimeji Lawal, Mutiu Adepoju, Rotimi Ali, Tope Obideyi, Muyiwa Lawal and so on, participated in the match, showcasing their skills to an enthusiastic crowd. The gathering served as both a celebration of Ibadan’s football heritage and a launchpad for future talent development programs.
According to organizers, this marks the beginning of sustained efforts to restore Oyo State’s reputation as Nigeria’s premier talent hub. With plans already underway for expanded grassroots programs, the initiative aims to produce the next generation of football stars for Nigeria.
