Introducing My Football Club, Ibadan United FC.
I’ve always loved the game of football. As you all know, I’m a die-hard fan of Shooting Stars, a club I have supported for over 40 years, right from when I was a kid.
It’s a club I even sponsored for a few years at one point.
However, I’ve always wanted to own my own football club. But I didn’t want to have a club in Ibadan that would play against Shooting Stars.
About five years ago, my friend, @biolakazeem and I came up with the idea of establishing one in Lekki, Lagos, where I have a home and where the head office of my businesses is located.
So, we formed Lekki United and competed in the NLO, the third tier of the Nigerian football league.
After about two years, European scouts started noticing some of our players and began approaching us about collaborations which includes taking them abroad.
That was when it dawned on me.
My people in Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency, my people in Ibadan, and indeed Oyo State in general, should be the ones benefiting from this opportunity.
That was when I decided to rebrand the club and move it to Ibadan.
The issue of playing against Shooting Stars should not be a problem. In fact, we can even help Shooting Stars. The club can serve as a pipeline for talent to the Oluyole Warriors and to clubs abroad. More importantly, it is a pathway to help talented footballers in my constituency and across Oyo State realise their dreams.
So, here we are.
Ibadan United Football Club is here. We play in the 3rd Tier of Nigerian Football, the NLO
We will make history together.
Akin Alabi
Hon. Akin Alabi
Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency
Ajia Olubadan of Ibadanland