Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Kwara State Chapter has lauded Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for immortalizing football legends Rashidi Yekini and Atanda Musa by naming key facilities at the Kwara State Stadium Complex in their honor.
In a statement issued by the Chairman Kwara SWAN, Mallam Ayodeji Ismail expressed its deep appreciation to the Governor for naming the main bowl of the stadium after the late Rashidi Yekini, who famously scored Nigeria’s first goal at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA.
Mallam Ayodeji said Yekini remains Nigeria’s all time highest goal scorer.
According to him, the decision to name the main bowl of the stadium after Rashidi Yekini is a fitting tribute to the legendary striker, whose contributions to Nigerian football cannot be overstated.
The SWAN Chairman noted that this gesture would not only keep his memory alive but also inspire future generations of footballers.
The Association acknowledged that the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has also renamed the newly built Table Tennis Hall in honor of Atanda Musa, a national champion in the sport.
Other facilities at the Kwara State Stadium Complex have also been renamed in recognition of significant individuals in the state’s sporting history.
The Indoor Sports Hall will now bear the name of Gabriel Babatunde Ladipo, a revered figure in Kwara sports and the first black principal of the Government Technical Training School Ilorin.
The Squash Court has been named after Coach Bolakale Mogaji, a Former National champion and the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission.
Similarly, KFA Academy has been named in honour of Coach Usuman Adenuja, the first football coach to take the Kwara Academicals to the final of the Academical football competition, with Governor AbdulRazaq among his products.
Other facilities such as Hostel A, B, and C have also been named after notable sports personalities from the state, including Salihu Ishola, Bolaji Eniola, and Bola Esan.
Mallam Ayodeji described decisions by the Governor as a show of profound commitment to honoring the legacies of the sporting heroes.
