3 weeks ago
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Tunde Fadare has emerged the victor of the 3rd variation of the Alake of Egbaland Birthday Tennis tourney by defeating his opponent, Kehinde Lawal, by 4-2 sets.
The competition, which marks the 3rd edition, is simply a week-long programme that features aggregate categories successful honour of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.
The tourney besides saw fulsome encomium pouring successful from notable Nigerians similar the Akarigbo of Remo and erstwhile politician Gbenga Daniel, who praised the tone of sportsmanship and assemblage the lawsuit fosters.
In a treble final, Femi George and Lookman Ajibona defeated Gbenga Omotoso and Buhari Aliyu successful a three-set game. In the pistillate final, Chinwe Igwe defeated Yewande Banjoko connected 3 sets 11-7, 11-8, 11-8, portion the duo of Bode Adekusibe and I TT Jimoh won the finals of the Septuagenarians and Veterans categories respectively.
The contention besides featured an accumulation lucifer between Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola, and the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, successful which the Akarigbo won by 11-3. Also, Sen. Gbenga Daniel and the Agba Akin of Egbaland, Chief Taiwo Adeoluwa, who were the umpires, decided the draw.
Paying tribute to the Alake, Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, said, “ It is simply a beauteous happening and a singular honour to a large man, the Alake of Egbaland. I americium truthful blessed to beryllium present and observe with him. I americium besides arrogant of Agba Akin who enactment the lawsuit together. So I privation the kabiyesi a agelong beingness and prosperity.”
Former Ogun State politician and Senator, representing Ogun East, Sen. Gbenga Daniel, connected his part, said, “You cognize without immoderate doubt, his reign has brought unprecedented improvement into Egbaland. And that is however you measurement the occurrence of the kabiyesi.
‘’Everything has turned astir for Egba land. We are precise blessed and excited, astatine 82 years, we miss him galore much years, and of course, he’s looking young. Many of you don’t cognize that we some attended Baptist schoolhouse successful Abeokuta. So what tin you expect different than occurrence and occurrence each the way.’’
Chairman of the Ikoyi Club Table, Tennis Section, Folusho Ajilore, praised the bequest of the monarch, stating, “We stitchery present contiguous to observe not lone a singular monarch but besides a bequest of leadership, service, and inspiration. As we honour our beloved Kabiyesi, the Alake of Egbaland, connected his 82nd birthday.”
Ajilore described the tourney arsenic much than conscionable a competition: “It is simply a awesome of the energy, unity, and progressive tone that Kabiyesi has ever embodied and encouraged among his people.”
He continued, “Through this event, we observe vitality, discipline, and excellence—qualities that specify some large athletes and large leaders. Kabiyesi, your beingness and reign person been marked by wisdom, vision, and an unyielding committedness to the improvement of Egbaland. Under your leadership, our onshore has witnessed peace, growth, and renewed pridefulness successful our civilization and identity.”
The president added, “By dedicating this tourney to you, we observe the cleanable equilibrium of spot and grace, the precise essence of some athletics and royalty.
‘’To our players, some young and old, we accidental play with passion, play with respect, and play successful the existent Egba spirit. Let this tourney punctual america that athletics unites communities, strengthens character, and builds bridges crossed generations.’’
The Agba Akin of Egbaland, Chief Taiwo Adeoluwa, said, ‘’This tourney is much than conscionable a sports event. It is simply a tribute to Alake’s lifelong committedness to sports development, peculiarly successful array tennis and golf.
“Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo has been a beingness subordinate of Ikoyi Club 1938 and remained progressive adjacent aft ascending the throne. As the paramount ruler of Egbaland, his dedication to nurturing younker endowment and supporting sports initiatives remains steadfast. So we designed this 82nd day tourney to admit and honour the Alake. This is the 3rd clip we are hosting it, and it’s present a fixed day successful our calendar.”
Dwelling connected grassroots sports development, a cardinal nonsubjective of the tourney and the Ikoyi club’s broader mission, Adeoluwa, said, “Beyond the day event, the nine conducts younker array tennis championships annually to nurture young talents. It besides donates array tennis instrumentality to schools successful Eti-Osa and Lagos successful a bid to prolong the sport’s growth.
“So this tourney not lone serves arsenic a solemnisation but besides arsenic a level to rise consciousness of array tennis and sportsmanship wrong the nine and the wider community, fostering a civilization of information and respect for athletics crossed each ages.”
English (US) ·