By Yusuf Mutiu Olaitan
Well, if there are things I’ve been able to take away from the both editions of Play With Kwara Youths , it’s the fact that Kwara Youths can come together, political leanings, be productive and assist each others. Yes, I saw people, who, wouldn’t let a day passed them by, without hurling invectives on opposite party, embraced each others, fought for each others on the pitch. Beautiful scenes!
I saw many staunch Sarakites stood up to defend an APC member, many SDP people, ditched political loyalty, to make a case for how and why a foul should be awarded to a PDP man. That’s the spirit. It obviously revealed to me that we never hate each others, we were not just being sincere with our inner selves.
I watched in ecstasy, a PDP member playing for a team headed by an APC member, striving tooth and nail just to secure maximum points even against a team led by his fellow party man.
On the other hand, it also revealed that our elders are not closer to us than we have ever thought, we weren’t just knocking on their doors, hence, the distance between us and them. They are always open to guide, mentor and help us, we were not just knocking.
A spectator who’s from my community from the first edition of PWKY, told me how elated he was to have seen (not even engaged) both Dr. Lawal O. Olohungbebe and Comrade Ishowo Olanrewaju both of whom he had been in love with for many years. Two Ustaz, one character; simplicity!
Just last night, an elder brother told me the kind of affection he has developed for godfather, Barr. Rufa’i Ahmed , just for the singular reason that he was free and accommodating to everyone, not minding his own age and status.
Even to myself, I had always seen Advocate Abdulazeez Abdulrazaq as someone who’s always difficult to get, but it took a WhatsApp message to bring him on board at PWKY. Beautiful personality. Always ready to support.
Long time ago, circa 2020, Mallam Mohammed Funsho Abdullahi had sent me a message on WhatsApp just to see how I was doing. Boy! This was someone I wouldn’t even message for any reason, for I believe he’d be too occupied to attend to a chat from someone like me. That’s how much respect I’ve got for him. Fast forward to PWKY 2.0, he accepted to be a part of the convergence at first call. We can’t appreciate you enough!
Alhaji Muftau Akanbi Oke ‘s presence at PWKY shows how accommodating he is. He brought his A-game. I doubt someone who had only hear his name without meeting him before that day would have believed the ‘indestructible’ Oke would be so lively to be relating with everyone as if he was the main organizer. Respect!
Mallam Otukoko Olayinka Ibrahim emerged as the best coach at PWKY 2.0 for a reason. He was all in. He participated with all sense of seriousness anyone could imagine. No wonder my Egbon is loved and appreciated across board. Participants at PWKY spoke highly of you, sir! And we want to have you all the time!
Engr. Nurudeen Adeyemi support and seriousness to the success of PWKY can’t be overestimated, only that people were hoping to see him at the venue. We appreciate you greatly, sir!
We also appreciate Omotosho Scholarship Platform Foundation, OSPF, we appreciate you greatly. Thanks for doing all you did for Kwara Youths. We hope we do many great things together going forward!
And to all participants from the first edition and the second edition, we appreciate you, and like I do say, there can’t be PWKY without you. I hope you will always be a part of us! We can’t ever be divided. We are one!
To our spectators and fans, we love you!
On a final note, let me sincerely ask; should we call on you next time, will you be a part of our journey?
Congratulations to Team godfather for always winning the PWKY!