The ancient Olubadan Stadium was agog again when the 3SC team ‘B’ now known as 3SC Starlet confronted CRIN FC in the opening match of this year’s edition of Afe Babalola Champions League Tourney which ended in 1-1 draw at Olubadan Stadium Ibadan on Tuesday.

Both teams are among the 16 teams that qualified to play the glamour-laden soccer fiesta from the pool of 80 club-sides that featured in the 914 matches Ibadan Football Association (IFA) League 2011/2012 season.

Immigration FC recorded a slim 1-0 victory against the high-scoring Olagoke Rocks FC in a match played at 2:pm earlier before the 3SC match.

The Caretaker Chairman, Oluyole Local Government, Prince Abass Aleshinloye who kicked-off the soccer tourney lauded the effort of the IFA in developing grassroots football in Ibadan and environs and donated plasma television and DVD sets to the office of IFA as his token to support their hard work.

The competition according to the head of media and strategy of IFA, Folorunsho Oyelakin was sponsored by the respected legal luminary and the Pillar of Sport in Ibadanland, Aare Afe Babalola SAN which would feature 24 matches in its first round and four matches in the quarter finals, two matches in the semi and two in the final.

The Chairman of IFA, Alhaji Banji Akintayo while addressing press after the match expressed his appreciation to the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti for his unwavering support towards the development of grassroots football in south/west region of the nation which has had larger influence on Nigeria as whole.

IFA boss also thanked the council boss for his kind gesture towards the football body, while calling on all spirited individual to assist the body in giving grassroots football the best it deserved.

Akanbi Agiri