Behold Old Things Have Passed Away, With BAO All Things Have Become New.

Behold Old Things Have Passed Away.

...With BAO All Things Have Become New.

.....All Eyes On Team Ekiti Ahead of Youth Games Grand Finale.

At the commencement of the 2023 National Youth Games staged in Asaba , Delta State, Ekiti State became a national discuss.

Though not for the best reason anyone would be proud of but the spirit of Ekitism would refused to be dampened.

The incident of Saturday September 23 did not only get at the citizens , friends and loved ones at home and abroad but it got to the Number 1 citizen , Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO)

Swiftly enough, the governor swung into action and within hours, the kits adorned by Team Ekiti became the cynosure of all eyes on the internet, though many of the online critics, bloggers and pressmen did not herald the new look Team Ekiti as they did when the kits were horrible.

Some of us will not forget in a hurry what happened at Edo 2021 National Sports Festival when a major Sports stakeholder (name kept) was called out by Team Ekiti due to non-payment of allowances and alleged mismanagement of Sports Festival funds, alas nothing happened except the harassment he faced in the media and in the hands of some bold athletes which forced him to travel down to Edo for prompt payment of the allowances to the athletes when their sweat had almost dried up(contrary to what the Bible preaches)

Back to the present moment, as all the States that participated in the 2023 National Youth Games are set for the usual ceremonial match past to draw the curtains on the fiesta, all eyes will be on Team Ekiti and those who shouted to the high heavens will need to hire louder microphones to do same when they catch a glimpse of Ekiti young lads and lasses.

Surprisingly, as the events end today, many of the best dressed teams at the beginning of the week long fiesta are going back home without a single medal and many worked their hearts out to win a couple of medals which fell short of what Ekiti won.

Certainly an average Ekiti sports enthusiast including the sports loving governor would have loved to see Team Ekiti sweep more medals but their performance which placed the State at the middle of the medals table with 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals deserved commendation as they outclassed bigger, older and richer States.

This ought to call for celebration among the media practitioners whose write ups and knocks actually went a long way at straightening some rough edges.

When the match past takes place,Team Ekiti would hopefully recieve more accolades and cheers rather then jeers from the crowd and spectators across the world.

Big thanks to the pro-active governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and the lawmakers headed by Mr Adeoye Aribasoye for their swift response at the most crucial time to correct the negative impression about THE LAND OF HONOUR being peddled around by those with little knowledge about us and what we stand for.

As it stands, it is eagerly expected that the governor would surprise the Sports World with the kind of packages that await the resilient Team Ekiti both medal winners and entire participants.

With this, Ekiti would have thought other States some moral lessons that " Getting wealthy ahead of me  does not mean you will be wealthier than I could be" and "the masquerade that dances first will eventually become a spectator in the end"  

Thank you Ekiti Kete for standing by Team Ekiti despite being young with little experience.

Thank you Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for your proven passion for Sports

Abeg am I public servant or a politician 😄

The truth is that am just driven by my passion for Sports and "wetin I love"

Like that popular guy named ASHAKE sings "Wetin you love , no be wetin I love but wetin I love , I go put all my heart oooo" 🎶🎵

Thank you all.

Qozeem Oladapo 

Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Ekiti State