By Wole Opatola
It was by no small means an epoch-making and emotionally laden occasion as football clubs in Edo State became beneficiaries of customised soccer balls courtesy of the MD and CEO of Big Joe Motors, Comrade Sunny Osayande.
The event which was held at the Wesley Hotel Event Hall at GRA, Benin-city on Thursday, drew the creme de la creme of sports in the state as a powerful Government delegation, led by the Edo State Sports Commission Chairman, Barrister Godwin Dudu Orumen, the NYSC Board Chairman, Honourable Damian Lawani, the SSA Sports to the Deputy Governor, Mrs Sabina Chikere, the acting chairman and secretary of the Edo State Football Association, Comrade Roland Abu and Elder Ajibola Emmanuel, the state secretary of YSFON, Comrade Moses Agbonlahor and a host of others were all in attendance at the history-making occasion which was a fulfilment of the promise of the Edo state most recognised grassroots football developer and supporter, Comrade Sunny Osayande who recently declared during the celebration of his birthday anniversary that he was going to be making series of donations and commitments to football clubs, players and authorities to further encourage and promote the football glory of the state.
Some of the clubs, some playing in the NNL, NLO, NWFPL, Amateur Leagues and various other football academies in the state like Rolly Football Club, Edo Queens FC, Bendel Insurance Feeders, Royal FC Ikpoba Hill, Buffalo FC, BJ Foundation, Dinamo FC, Eagle wings FC, Austin Eguavoen Football Academy, Bazuaye Football Academy, All Stars FC, Fortress Ladies amongst others, became recipients of 10 customised soccer balls on the night.
Speaking at the end of the ceremony, Comrade Wesley Asoro, the chairman of Wesley Hotels, was full of praises for the donor who he regarded as the true son of the soil and a philanthropist with a heart of gold, the same opinion as the Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Barrister Godwin Dudu Orumen who went beyond praises to encouraging others to emulate the MD CEO of Big Joe Ventures in contributing their quota to the development of the game in the state as government can not do it all.
Comrade Sunny Osayande himself speaking at the event put together by foremost event planner Fred Newton Erhunmwunse, made a promise that just as the donations were not the first, Edo state has not witnessed the last of many to come.
