By Femi Atolagbe
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Team Lincoln Afolabi Ojo has emerged winner of the maiden edition of Sunshine Hockey Flickers 5 -Aside Easter Carnival competition held at the Ondo State Sports complex, Akure.
Lincoln Afolabi Ojo who is the Senior Special Assistant to Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Youth Empowerment and Chairman of Ondo State Hockey Association won the maiden edition with seven points to settle for gold medal.
Deputy Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Samuel Aderoboye team came second with five points to scoop home a silver medal and Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa who is the Deputy Chairman of the state Hockey Association team won third position with three points while Director of Sports in the ministry of Youth and Sports, Mrs Evelyn Lebi’s team came fourth with one point.
All the teams proprietors were all Ex- Hockey players.
The veterans teams also defeated Aquinas college side 1-0 in an exhibition match .
Individual award was presented to the highest goal scorer, Most valuable player and the youngest player of the competition while first three winners went home with cash prizes.
The Ondo State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Mr Samuel Aderoboye in a chat with newsmen commended the players and the organizers for putting such an interesting event in place.
Aderoboye said the competition will become an annual event where budding talents will be discovered for the benefit of the state.
He urged the players to concentrate on their training and ensure they play to the rules of the game at all times.
According to him, “there are lots of good players among the young Flickers , they only need encouragement and tutor to become a perfect players.”
“They need development in terms of strength, I was once a hockey player, I developed interest in it, once a Flicker is always a Flicker”
The General Manager of the State Sports Council, Mr Henry Babatunde while commending the flickers and their coaches for the good job urged them to keep the flag flying.
He said: “This is a good development, the competition will in no small measure prepare the players ahead of the future challenges.”
The head coach of the State Hockey Association, Mr Mark Oloruntola thanked God for the success of the competition, saying he never knew it will become a big event.
He added that the players gave good account of themselves, saying the competition was purposefully organised to put the players in shape ahead of future competitions.
He said: I thank the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly for making the pronouncement that the competition will become an annual competition”
“Next year competition will be better than the maiden edition, we are going to invite teams from other South West states,” he said.
