Former Ekiti state deputy governor, Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka has thrown his weight behind Ikere local government U13 football team ahead of the Oba Ademola Ajakaiye Memorial U-13 football competition organised by the Ekiti State Football Association, starting this weekend.

A Socio-Political Organization, Ekiti Grassroots Movement (EGM) made the pledge in solidarity with the former Deputy Governor, who also hails from Ikere.

The organisation, in a press statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Adebisi Adeola, said the group would, on behalf of His Excellency Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka, provide kits for the Ikere U13 football team that will be competing at the Oba Ademola Ajakaiye Memorial football against other local government teams in the state.

“We are a group of football loving youth drawn across the 16 Local Governments of Ekiti. We have resolved to bankroll the playing kits of the boys as a way of supporting the kids’ dreams of playing football at professional level and also in line with the master plan of our beloved former Deputy Governor and leading Governorship aspirant come 2022, to use football as a Mobilization tool towards improving the State’s socioeconomic state,” the statement said.

The Ikere local football council Chairman, Mr Adeolu Oyebode, appreciates the good gesture towards the team and assured that the team will make Ikere local government proud by churning out good results at the competition.

“We’re receiving massive support from every critical stakeholders in the local government, but we want to sincerely thank Professor Eleka’s team for donating the playing kits to our boys. This is a morale boost and I can assure everyone that our U13 talents will break into the State and National team. The gesture is appreciated,” the statement added.