Oyo SWAN Honours Late Football Commentator, Fatoyinbo

The late Sports football commentator and ace broadcaster with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN) late Prince Tolu Fatoyinbo has been described as the bridge between the golden era of Sport commentary on radio and the present crop of commentators in the country as well as the last of the titan in sports commentary on radio in Nigeria.

This and many more were the encomium poured for the late Fatoyinbo at a program organized in his honour by the Oyo State chapter of the Sports writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) on Wednesday at the media center of Obafemi Awolowo stadium, Ibadan.

The well attended program by friends, family members, colleagues and well wishers was part of the burial arrangements of the broadcaster, slated to be buried this weekend.

 The deceased for years with the likes of Sabastine Ofurum, Ernest Okonkwo, Emeka Odikpo, Fabio Lanipekun, Walter Oyatogun and much later, the late Yinka Craig was among many other veterans ruled the airwaves with their live sports commentaries and other presentations.

 Mr. Sina Abimbola who had worked closely with Fatoyinbo was the guest speaker at the event tagged ‘A Day of Tribute’ while Zonal Coordinator, of National Sports Commission, zone one, Dr Steve Olarinoye, Former Chairman of Shooting Stars, Elder Bode Oyewole and host of others as speakers at the occasion.

 While delivering paper, the guest speaker, Mr. Abimbola said “in Nigeria sports, football commentary, we refers to the likes of late Isola Folorunsho, Kelvin Ejiofor, Sebastian Offurum, Walter Batoweh, Joe Lateh, Dan Esiekpe, Edem Duke, Emeka Odikpo, Richard Asiegbu as the best ever and Tolu Fatoyinbo who happens to be among them serve as the Bridge between the
golden era of football commentary in Nigeria and the present day crop of radio commentators we have around”.

 “Tolu Fatoyinbo is the last among these titans who identified, discovered and nurtured talents in the industry for posterity sake. He was a convenient melting point between the ceremonial and sports. ”he added.

 Also speaking at the event the former Chairman of Shooting Star Sports Club (3SC), Elder Bode Oyewole said that late Prince Fatoyinbo whom they both worked together at FRCN was a toast of radio listeners especially football commentaries in their days.

 “Your day is made if you happen to listen to Tolu Fatoyinbo’s live commentary which was always a delight due to his dexterity, sense of humor, versatility and a thorough broadcaster who will go to any length to get his pronunciations correctly”, Oyewole noted.

 Dr Steve Olarinoye in his tribute described the deceased as an epitome of humility, saying he has never met anyone as humble as Prince Fatoyinbo despite his fame and pedigree in the industry.