It was a convergence of top past and present Nigeria professional league players, as well as professional footballers from the diaspora, last Saturday at the popular Alade Stadium, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, for the end-of-season novelty match organised by the President of Ottasolo football club, Otunba Gabriel Davies.
The novelty match, which ended 2-0 in favour of the NPFL Stars, featured members of the famous Ottasolo All-stars, a team comprising several retired top players from local and foreign leagues, including Babatunde Joseph of Enyimba fame, Abiodun Sala, a former 3SC, Kwara United and Energy FC of Benin Republic.
Among the illustrious list were Shittu Taoreed, who played for Stationery Stores and LK Patak of Poland, Moshood Dikko from the defunct Nitel FC, Taofeek Ghasal, a former player of Stationery Stores, NEPA FC, Concorde FC, Orlando Pirates, and Free Stars of South Africa, Bayo Elekenu of the defunct Nitel FC, LSDPC, Sporting De Goa and Mohammedad Sporting of India, and several other players.
Some of the home and foreign-based stars who took part in the exciting and entertaining novelty match included the 2023/2024 NPFL season second highest scorer, Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars), Ifeanyi Ogba (Enugu Rangers), Junior Lokosa (Sporting Lagos), Ikenna Stephen (Enugu Rangers), Azeez Ramon (Granada FC, Spain) and Boluwaji David (Nava 1863, Portugal).
Others were Olanrewaju Ramon (Kwara United), Ogundimu Mutiu (Rivers United), Adenodi Michael (Warri Wolves), Tunde Bright (Tradesafe FC) and Ogunribigbe Seun (Remo Stars).
Speaking to the press during the game, Spain-based Azeez Ramon was full of praises for the organisers of the game, particularly thanking Otunba Gabriel Davies for his long-standing magnanimity and support for grassroots football in the state.
Ifeanyi Ogba of Enugu Rangers, fondly called Aguero, expressed his happiness about the novelty game that brought together players from different teams in the league, and prayed to God to continue to bless and protect the sponsor of the event.
Sikiru Alimi and Boluwaji David were effusive in praises for Otunba Gabriel Davies, describing him as a mentor, philanthropist, kindhearted person, and a lover and supporter of youth and grassroots football development.
On his part, Otunba Gabriel Davies assured that the novelty match would become an annual event, even as he plans to work with his team to make it better, bigger, and more exciting from the next edition.
