The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 4th Adu Unity Football Cup has assured participating teams of fair officiating as the competition gets underway in Ondo State.
Defending champions Ijapo Ages Stars of Akure South will face newcomers Ore Bombers in the opening match on Tuesday, September 6, 2026.
Twenty-one teams drawn from the 18 local government areas of Ondo State are expected to participate in the fourth edition of the grassroots football competition.
Speaking with newsmen at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure, LOC Chairman Raymond Abdulsalam commended the participating teams for their commitment and understanding during the previous edition.
Abdulsalam urged coaches and club owners to continue working with the LOC to sustain the gains recorded in the competition.
“I want you all to cooperate with us to help these young and upcoming stars achieve their dreams,” he said.
“On our own as organisers, we will do our best to ensure that no team is short-changed during this competition. I plead with you all to present a good team that will represent you well.”
The Chairman of the Ondo State Football Association, Otunba Dele Ajayi, represented by the association’s Secretary, Femi Adeleye, commended the sponsor, Barrister Olumuyiwa Adu, for sustaining the competition for four consecutive years.
Adeleye said Adu had chosen the right platform to empower young people through grassroots football.
“Let me also thank the organisers for their efforts in putting one of the best grassroots football competitions in place in the state,” he said.
“We must appreciate your efforts as partners in the development of grassroots football. You are our partners in progress.”
Ajayi also urged all participating teams to abide by the rules of the game, noting that nobody was perfect, and prayed for the success of the competition.
The representative of the Chairperson of the Ondo State Referees Council, Mr Tolu Akinfemisoye, used the occasion to educate the teams on the new rules guiding the game.
Akinfemisoye said the referees would strive to ensure fair officiating, while acknowledging that human errors could not be completely eliminated from football.
“As human beings, we are not perfect, but we will do our best to ensure fair officiating. Human errors cannot be completely taken away from the game,” he said.
He appealed to team representatives to educate their fans on the rules of the competition, noting that disputes and crises often arose from the bench and among supporters who were unfamiliar with the rules.
Souvenirs were subsequently presented to all 21 participating teams representing the 18 local government areas of the state.
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