Laurel For FCT Sports Deputy Director

By: Gyang Dakwo

In what can be regarded as a testimony to the fact that the FCT Sports department is manned by experienced professionals, the Deputy Director (Sports Development), Iyiola Ogundele, was recently inducted into the Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association Wall of Fame.

Ogundele made history as a member of the University of Ibadan football team that won the soccer gold medal at the 1990 NUGA games held at the University of Calabar, which remains the only soccer gold medal the university has ever won.

The award was given at the annual reunion of the Association held at their Alma Mater.

Ogundele was recognised for his goal keeping prowess during his undergraduate days at the school during which he went on to represented Nigeria in 1991 at the World University Games in Sheffield, England, where Nigeria reached the quarterfinals.

He had an impressive professional football career having played for Nitel Ilorin, ISO Glass FC Ibadan, and NEPA FC Lagos. Doyin Babes Ilorin, and NEPA Umuahia are also on the list of clubs where he played.

Speaking to Abuja Digest, Ogundele while going down memory lane said he enjoyed the publicity and support from fans.

So many of my fans from Kwara state, Oyo state and Abia state where I had my NYSC. Those days in Umuahia, if I go to the market, anything I intended to buy was given free of charge,” he said. “The Igbos love football, my fellow youth corpers always wanted to follow me to market back then in Umuahia.”

Ogundele disclosed that his motivation came from his elder brother Tunde Ogundele who was also a goalkeeper for the National hockey team.

He pointed out that sports is his life as he has been in it right from primary school up to the present day.

One of his then team mates and fellow Gold medallist, Dimeji Adeyemo said as a player Ogundele was so disciplined and focused, adding that his work ethics on and off the pitch was exemplary and that made him stand out amongst his peers.

His words: “Ogundele has the ability to transfer his confidence to his team mates and is also a great motivator who leads from behind. He has confidence and ability to control his defence line, dealing with aerial balls and one on one situation with strikers. A good shot and penalty stopper.”

Ogundele joined the Federal Capital Territory Administration as a Sports Officer in 1997.