By Akeem Busari

 

It was a convergence of top past and present Nigeria professional league players, as well as, professional footballers from the diaspora, last Saturday at the popular Alade  Stadium, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, for the end-of- season novelty match organised by the President of Ottasolo football club, Otunba Gabriel Davies.

 

The novelty match ended 2-0 in favour of the NPFL Stars, featured members of the famous Ottasolo All-stars, a team that has several retired top players from the local and foreign leagues, including Babatunde Joseph of the Enyimba fame, Abiodun Sala, a former 3SC, Kwara United and Energy FC of Benin Republic.

 

Amongst the illustrious list are Shittu Taoreed, who plied his trade with Stationery Stores and LK Patak of Poland, Moshood Dikko, for the defunct Nitel FC, Taofeek Ghasal, a former player of Stationery Stores, NEPA FC, Concorde FC, Orlando Pirates and Free Stars of South Africa, Bayo Elekenu of the defunct Nitel FC, LSDPC, Sporting De Goa and Mohammedad Sporting of India, and several other players.

 

Some of the home and foreign based stars who took part in the exciting and very entertaining novelty match are the 2023/2024 NPFL season second highest scorer, Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars), Ifeanyi Ogba (Enugu Rangers), Junior Lokosa (Sporting Lagos), Ikenna Stephen (Enugu Rangers), Azeez Ramon (Granada FC, Spain) and Boluwaji David( Nava 1863, Portugal).

 

Others are Olanrewaju Ramon (Kwara United), Ogundimu Mutiu (Rivers United), Adenodi Michael( Warri Wolves), Tunde Bright (Tradesafe FC) and Ogunribigbe Seun(Remo Stars).

 

Speaking to the press during the game, Spain based Azeez Ramon was full of praises for the organisers of the game, as he particularly, thanked Otunba Gabriel Davies, for his agelong magnanimity and support for grassroots football in the state.

 

Ifeanyi Ogba of Enugu Rangers, who is fondly called Aguero, expressed his happiness on the novelty game that brought together players of different teams in the league, even as he prayed to God to continue to bless and protect the sponsor of the event.

 

Sikiru Alimi and Boluwaji David were effusive in praises for Otunba Gabriel Davies, who they described as mentor, philanthropist, kindhearted person, a lover and supporter of youth and grassroots football development.

 

On his part, Otunba Gabriel Davies, assured that the novelty match would become an annual event, even as he plans to work with his team, to make it better, bigger and more exciting from the next edition.