Business mogul and sports philanthropist, Sir Kessington Adebutu, says his passion for football and investment in the game has paid off.
“I have made millions of Naira from football, hence my love for the round leather game,’’ he told a news conference in Abeokuta ahead of the finals of the 3rd Sir Kessington Adebukonla Adebutu Annual U-18 football competition in Sagamu.
Adebutu had been the sponsor of the competition in the last three editions.
The competition coincided with the 10th anniversary of his foundation and his 80th birthday.
Adebutu, who said he might consider sponsoring other sports, insisted that he would not stop supporting football as long as he lived.
“I cannot say. For now I am supporting football and maybe some of you (journalists) do not know that I made my money from football.
“From the days of Face-to-Face Pools Bettting till date.’’
The Premier Lotto boss otherwise known as “Baba Ijebu”, however, congratulated the three players who took part in the last edition and are currently participating in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
“Four others are on the verge of making the next Under-17 team. I am happy that the trio of Funsho Bamgboye, Akin Ayinde and goalkeeper Akpan Udo did well in Chile,” he said.
Adebutu thanked the media for supporting his cause over the years.
In his address, Mr Ganiyu Majekodunmi, Ogun Football Association Chairman, lauded Adebutu for his doggedness and commitment to the development of football in the state.
He called on well-meaning Nigerians to emulate Adebutu, saying “it is not easy for government alone to shoulder the responsibility of funding sports.’’
NAN reports that the defending champions, Imeko-Afon did not make the finals just as it lost 0-1 to Sagamu in a third place match played on Sunday at the Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu.
Ojo Adeniyi scored the only goal of the match in the 69th minute of play.
However, Ikenne team scored in the 53rd minute while the Yewa (Egbado) South netted a goal in the 75th minute ending in a draw which later drifted into a penalty shootout.
Yewa South team eventually won 4-3 on penalty to emerge the 2015 winner of the competition.