By Femi Atolagbe
The third edition of the Adu Unity Football Competition will officially kick off on Saturday, with defending champions Ijapo Ages Stars set to face United Army in the opening match at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure.
A total of 23 teams from 18 local government areas across the state have registered for this year’s tournament, which promises excitement and talent discovery. Ijapo Ages Stars are the reigning champions, having won the first two editions consecutively.
Addressing the participating teams, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Raymond Abdulsalam, reaffirmed his committee’s commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent competition.
“The competition will be played at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure, and the Ijapo Housing Field. Any act of thuggery or indiscipline will not be tolerated. I urge all teams to exhibit maturity and good sportsmanship,” he said.
Abdulsalam added that the winners will receive ₦1 million, runners-up ₦500,000, third-place ₦200,000, and fourth-place ₦100,000.
The competition’s sponsor, Hon. Olumuyiwa Adu, represented by Hon. Layo Falohun, Rev. (Hon.) Tayo Abisola, and Hon. Abiodun Aladanla, commended both the organisers and participating teams for their cooperation during the draws.
“With the level of organisation and mutual understanding witnessed today, we are confident the competition will be successful,” they said.
Secretary of the Ondo State Football Association (FA), Femi Adeleye, encouraged teams to adhere to the rules and maintain discipline.
“Play according to the rules and show good sportsmanship. The goal is to discover new talents who can represent the state and the country in the future,” he urged.
Also speaking, Representative of the Ondo State Referees Council, Tolulope Akinfemisoye, advised coaches to acquaint themselves with the laws of the game to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
“Coaches must understand the rules thoroughly to prevent misleading or inciting their players against referees’ decisions,” he cautioned.
Participating teams pledged their cooperation with the organisers, while urging the LOC to uphold fairness and transparency throughout the tournament.