The 2024 annual Ijapo Ages Stars FC (IASFC) intra club competition kicked off at Ijapo/Housing field in Akure with the opening match ended 3-2 in favour of Team Cherry who came from two goals down to defeat Team Apple.
Banana, however, played a 1-1 draw against Date- Plum in the second match of the grassroot football competition.
Goals from Taiwo Adeniran and Johnson Akintayo gave Cherry a leveler, having trailed Apple who were leading from Leye Adewole and Shayo Olayeni goals in the first half of the enthralling encounter.
Substituted Nosa Enabulele scored the winning goal for Cherry as Apple Goalkeeper Ayodeji Ogunsakin received a matching order from the center referee for dissent.
Meanwhile, Team Banana took the lead through Taiwo Ajimuda from outside the box, before John Tope equalised from Date – plum moment later from a rebound.
The second stanza of the encounter failed to record any further goal as both sides shared the spoils of the encounter.
All the participating teams displayed high level of football artistry to the admiration of the spectators.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr Shalom Olaseeni commended all the participating teams for their maturity both on and outside the pitch.
Olaseeni said the competition is an annual event to bring members of the club within and outside the country together and also to discover new talents for the team.
He explained that the organisers decided to name the teams after some fruits and the following fruits were adopted, team A represent Apple, Team B Banana, C Cherry and D Date -Plum.
According to him, “it’s a round robin competition and it will be played for four Saturdays.”
He said: “I enjoin all the teams to maintain this tempo and play according to the rules of the competition”, he said.
Mr Robert Ibukun Enikan while performing the kick off of the competition ,commended the Management of the club for contributing to the development of sports in Ondo State.