Council Chambers of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti came alive as a group of budding talents who adopted the Afe Babalola Babies as their name, came to the University to present the huge cup won at the shorts on target Competition at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti.
Led by the First Professor of Sports Science in Nigeria, Professor Michael Ajisafe, the thirty-man team clad in ash-coloured T-shirts and blue shorts was accompanied by the Team Manager, Mr. Opeyemi Fabunmi, the Coach and his Assistant, Messrs Ademola Agbana and Oladeji Olajide and the Club Secretary, Miss Olowoyeye.
Sponsored by Nigerite Nig. Plc, the team Manager explained that the Competition was meant to discover talented Footballers between the ages of 14 and 20.
Presenting the team to the Founder, Aare Afe Babalola Professor Ajisafe said he was not surprised that the players came tops in a 34team competition, giving the Proprietors winning pedigree and his consistent support for sports development in the country.
He urged other eminent citizens to emulate Aare Afe Babalola by supporting developmental programmes across all age grades in sporting activities.
While expressing his happiness at the performance of the team, the Founder, Aare Afe Babalola thanked members of the team for making him proud. He attributed the sporting success of Abuad to Professor Ajisafe whom he described as a wonderful gift to the Abuad family. Aare called on the players to work harder, engage in more competition and be focused to attain more laurels for themselves and the nation.
Aare Afe Babalola decried the poor level of sports development in the South Western part of Nigeria adding that Yoruba States are not leaving up to expectation particularly at the current National Sports Festival (Eko 2012) holding in Lagos.
He advised State governments to scout for raw talents from the grassroots and devote a large chunk of their resources to sports development.
The Founder pointed out that sports breed healthy future leaders and promote National unity.
In addition to the three hundred thousand naira prize money won by the team, Aare Afe Babalola donated six hundred thousand naira and promised further support regularly.
In his vote of thanks, the team Manager expressed appreciation to the Founder for his kind gesture and promised not to relent on their oars.