Again, an initiative by Honourable Rasak Olusola Ajala has brought Odiolowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area into limelight.

On Wednesday, 10 July, 2024, the Ilupeju secretariat of the council was packed full of people, rejoicing and singing praises of the young council boss who has taken grassroots governance to a greater with mouth-watering people-oriented programmes which have improved the lives of residents of the council area.

A Swedish based company, SKF had journeyed into seeking football talents to represent the country at the popular Gothia Cup Youth Competition. For those who don’t know, Gothia Cup is one of the most respected and popular youth football competitions in the world.

In the past, the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) used to raise the team for Nigeria’s participation at the annual event but the country’s participation stopped with the extinction of YSFON.

This, this year, SKF took up itself as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), to raise a team to represent Nigeria at the Gothia Cup.

Thousands of players took part in the screening exercise which took place the football pitch of the Lagos State College of Medicine (LASUCOM). At stake was just 18 slots for players picked.

Ghetto United, a community nurtured football team, founded and financed by Rasak Ajala became the cynosure of eyes after the screening exercise.

Out of the 18 players picked, five came from came from Ghetto United. It was such a success a story.

By the time this report will hit the streets, the five Ghetto United players and 15 others chosen would have been in Sweden ready to do Nigeria proud. More than 1700 teams from 80 countries of the world would participate in the competition.

The Ajala-led administration on Wednesday, 10 July, 2024, held a send forth for the players and it was commendation galore for the council Chairman.

The players, who were accompanied by their parents expressed gratitude to the Council Chairman, assuring that they will work hard to make not only the council area but also Lagos and Nigeria proud during the competition.

Speaking during the send forth party, an elated Ajala said, “When we were traversing the nooks and crannies of the LCDA, soliciting for their votes, we did tell them that we are going to project Mushin to the world positively and one of the veritable platforms to do this for our youth is through football and other sports.

“What we are doing today is a fulfillment of our covenant we had with our people and this came in handy when SKF decided to use international football tournament for the youth across the world to showcase the youth of Nigeria, especially the youth of Odiolowo-Ojuwoye LCDA in that competition coming up in Sweden”.

He noted that the LCDA has been nurturing the youth for years, spending lots of money to keep them fit and handy for them to be accessed.

He thanked the sponsor, SKF for believing in the youth, the country and the LCDA and assured them that the youth would make them proud at the end of the tournament.

“I know, given the talents and the capacity the team has exhibited, they would bring the converted trophy back home.

“I am sure there is no way these lads would write their trajectories of their surgeon within football space without recourse to what God has used your company to do in their lives”.

He stated further that, “I am fulfilled that our government, your government has made meaningful impact on the lives of the families of these 5 youths.

“We will continue them and I am looking forward to the day they will be in the final stage of the competition and I will be joining them to be part of the success story to bring the cup home.

“Mushin is not synonymous with negativity, we have lots of talents and we have lots of people making remarkable waves in their various endeavors that are making us proud across the world.

“What we are doing today is a testament to that fact.

“If we can have five youths representing the country from our LCDA, it speaks volumes.

“I want to appeal to our youth to use their energies for something positive rather than using them to unleash terror to innocent citizens of the LCDA.

“These crops of youth have demonstrated uncommon traits and towed our line of vision for the youth of the LCDA.

“I am sure, the other youth will emulate what these young boys have achieved,” he said.

He advised them to exercise a high degree of discipline when they get there.

The Vice Chairman, Hon Seyi Jakande expressed his joy for the achievement attained with the boys.

“It is a thing of joy that we have achieved this and this is a clear demonstration that we have been able to walk our talk

“The defining moment is the accomplishment that our LCDA has produced these five young men.

“It is a demonstration that through perseverance and patience one can actualize his/her dream without necessarily towing the lines of (Japa) syndrome.

“I am appealing to our youth to continue to be patriotic and believe in the country and the sky is their beginning,” he said.

In his message to the players, the SKF representative, Mr Edio Uti, stated that lots of stars have merged from the competition like Emmanuel Adebayor and others.

He advised that they shouldn’t be intimidated as they have what it takes to Excel.

“They should go there, express themselves, enjoy themselves and whatever comes out should be taken in good faith,” he said.

He thanked the Chairman of the Council and his team for their support as they were the one that introduced the Coaches, and the players to them.

The CDC Chairman, Otunba Adebayo Adekunle advised the boys to comport themselves well and not be intimidated by the crowd.

The Coach of the team, Mr. Azeez Mustapha was overwhelmed with joy as he gave glory to God for making his dreams come to pass.

He thanked Hon. Ajala and his team for the support given to him to enable him achieve the feat.

He seized the opportunity to thank the sponsor, SKF, for believing in his players and spending so much on them.

One of the parents of the players, Mr. Olajide Ebenezer thanked the Chairman, Hon. Rasaq Ajala, his team and SKF for the lifetime opportunity given to his son and other players.

He prayed to God to continue to be with them.

Owoseni Damilare, one of the players was full of thanks to the Chairman and their sponsor, SKF for the opportunity given to him and his colleagues.

“This is a lifetime opportunity for me and my colleagues.

“We have trained together and played lots of competitions but this is a special as it is an opportunity to showcase our talents outside the soil of this country.

“We have the skills, talents, capacity and what it takes to bring the cup back home,” he stated.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of a pair of boots to each of the players by the Chairman, Hon. Ajala.

The five Ghetto United players selected for the Ghotia Cup competition are: Owoseni Damilare, Idris Faruq, Adisa Mubarak, Adigun Qudus and Olajide Daniel.