Ademola ‘Origa’ Bamigbelu

John Olatunbosun

Alhaji Salman Yusuf

It was fanfare at the Alliance Francaise, Ibadan the day ace Nigerian sport photojournalist, Ademola Bamigbelu host media and the general public to his seven days photography exhibition tagged The Atmosphere.
Explaining the theme of the exhibition, Bamigbelu, fondly called Origa by friends and associates, the ‘Atmosphere’ is a compilation of images photographed across West Africa which tells the stories of various events captured by him.
“The cultural and traditional displays fascinate me each time I come across them at different stadiums. And the lens with me goes beyond my imagination and I never deny my mind to illuminate these visuals expressively. The reason I am showcasing the ‘Atmosphere’, he said.
Speaking further,
Bamigbelu, who has been following football matches and cultures attached to the beautiful game since the early 1980s, said the exhibition is about the fans and other characters that make the sporting atmosphere live apart from the major factors which are the players.
“Encountering dedicated fans and supporters despite finding themselves in different situations can be astonishing while working around the pitches.
“The good, the bad, and ugly attitudes are brought to the fore.
“I believe it is worthy to showcase them as a way of appreciating their undying love, keeping the momentum at all times. They are indeed the game changers!
“I have been able to capture in different poise for over 19 years through my lens and they deserve to be celebrated just like the footballers on the field of play,” added the award winning photographer.
Side attracting during the opening day of the exhibition include an encounter with an old man, Alhaji Salman Yusuf, who has been drumming in support of IICC Shooting Stars now renamed Shooting Stars Sports Club for over 40 years and also with a widely traveled football juggler who goes by the sobriquet LL Cool J who was known for his ability to recreate football skills and mannerisms of famous football players, coaches, and referees such as Taribo West, Jay- Jay Okocha, Mikel Obi, Jose Mourinho, Lionel Messi, Christiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, and others.
Speaking at the occasion, the director of the Alliance Francaise, Ibadan, John Akinsunmi Olatunbosun showered encomium on Bamigbelu for his initiative that brought about the exhibition saying ” to be exceptional in whatever your are doing, you must think outside the box and this is what make Bamigbelu’s work exceptional.”

SWAN Boss, Niyi Alebiosu with his members at the exhibition

The draw for the maiden edition of Evolution Cup will be held at Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne on Saturday, 5 February, 2022, the organizers announced.
Evolution Cup 2022, which is scheduled to take place from 21 February to 26 February at Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne will see Nationwide League (NLO) teams battle in a preseason tournament ahead of the new season.
“We are ready for the draw on Saturday and I believe the teams can’t wait to see their pairings too. It will go down at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, which is also the venue for the tournament.
“We want to use this tournament as a platform to make good preparations for NLO teams going into the new season”. Project strategist, Olatoye Olawale said.
The draw is expected to start by 2pm on Saturday, 5th of February, 2022 with teams representative and other stakeholders in attendance.
The tournament, sponsored by Alphakay International Sports and Packaged by Sportflames communication will feature Abraysports FC, Right 2 Win FC, Olansile FC, Hammola International FC and Beyond Limits FC.
Other teams that would be rolling out their aces for the 5-day soccer fiesta are Rolly FC, Magic Stars FC, Olukismet FC, Ilaji FC and SGFC Athletics.

Dr Felix Owolabi, MON, right, with Olayinka Agboola during the Radio Show on Splash 105.5fm

Former Nigeria International footballer, Dr Felix Owolabi, MON, has been talking about the day he scored two corner kicks directly without assistance from anybody.
He has also joined other great Nigerians who have been calling on the Nigerian Football Federation to retain the services of Super Eagles’ interim coach, Austin Eguavoen, stating that such move will ensure continuity and progress for the team.
He further urged NFF to strengthen the technical department of the team ahead of the world cup play-off against Ghana in March in order to ensure that the team qualifies for the world cup in Qatar.
Speaking on the performance of Nigeria at AFCON 2021, “I am not surprised about the performance of the team, our opponents at the group stage did not give us stiff opposition and Eguavoen within his short time as coach optimized the use of playing from the wing to neutralize the opposition”.
Continuing, “We overhyped the players and the sudden removal of Kelechi Iheanacho from the pitch during the Tunisia encounter affected the performance of the team. Tunisia monitored our style of play while we failed to do same because of the deficiency on the side of our technical department to monitor our opponents’ styles of play.
Speaking on the current situation of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), “3SC is a big club irrespective of the position of the club presently, one of the problems the club is having is that it just got promotion to NPFL and everybody is expecting them to win a trophy at all cost. Looking at the caliber of players in the team, they are very young and their future is very bright”.
The former 3SC football administrator explained that the playing structure and atmosphere in Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and Nigeria National League (NNL) are two parallel conditions while urging that 3SC players need further encouragement to perform at optimum level.
The former Nigeria International further charged the Oyo state government to bring in experienced sports administrators to manage the affairs of 3SC in order to regain its lost glory affirming that the club is the only representative in Nigeria to win two different continental titles in Africa.
The retired-footballer gave these submissions while featuring on a weekly radio show, Parrot Xtra/Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on Splash 105.5FM, Felele Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State’s on Tuesday.
He further stated that his most memorable game was against CA Bizertin club of Tunisia in CAF Confederation Cup semi-final match where he scored two-corner kicks directly before another 3SC player, Godwin Osusu scored a penalty kick that facilitated the progress of the team to the final after the team lost the first leg by two goals to nil in Tunis.
He further revealed that the bulk of Nigeria based players that was assembled by late Stephen Keshi to win the Nations Cup in South Africa was a result of the productive and concerted effort of the NPFL Board stating that the Board was dissolved based on selfish and political reasons.
Speaking on what he has been doing since retiring from active football, “Even before I retired, I had already been in business, I ventured into supplying and selling of sporting equipment and it was not very profitable before I jettisoned it. I later went into animal husbandry such as piggery and poultry farming”.
Dr Owolabi, however, charged Nigerian sport administrators to place the love of their fatherland above personal interests in the administration of sport in the country.