Everbest Football Club have emerged the winners of the 17th edition of Annual Rasool Under 18 Football Competition to commemorate the Annual Shafaudeen International Convention (Ishrat 2022).
In a match decided at Wesley College of Science Football Pitch on Wednesday, Everbest FC defeated Net Shakers FC by one goal to nothing (1-0) to emerge winner of this year’s edition.
While in the third place match earlier decided, Dunamis Rangers FC also defeated Gbenga Osogbola FC to emerge second and third runner ups respectively.
In his address at the grand finale of the competition, Founder and Spiritual Head, Shafaudeen In Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabit Olagoke Ariyo, charged stakeholders in sports sector across the country to give prioritity to safeguard of the participants including the spectators from any kind of abuse that sports has been exposed to as a result of increased globalization.
Prof. Ariyo Olagoke, who is also the donor, described sports as fertile resources to create employment opportunities, apart from its usefulness in uniting people irrespective of ethnic and religious inclination and promotion of healthy lifestyle.
The Islamic cleric explained that prioritizing safeguarding of sports participants will not only protect their health and wellbeing but also their fundamental human rights.
According to Prof. Olagoke, “Sports contributes to peace, enables a sustainable environment, creates jobs and plays a vital role in promoting a healthy lifestyle. However, in the increasingly globalized world, sport is exposed to complex risks posed by abuses which have stripped sport of its positive, transformative power.
“Safeguarding the young, vulnerable participants and spectators in our sports should be a priority as it is the responsibility of a society to ensure that the wellness of individuals is at the forefront. It means protecting their health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.”
While calling on the relevant stakeholders in the country to inculcate the culture of safeguarding in the sports administration, expressed that it prevents athletes from sexual, physical and psychological harassments often faced in the line of duties.
“Abuse and neglect can have a lasting impact throughout a person’s life. For example, they may turn to drinking, taking drugs as a way of coping and regularly entertaining suicidal thoughts. Clearly, more needs to be done to safeguard athletes from this sort of harm. Hence safeguarding in sports is so important,” Prof. Olagoke said.
The Rasool Cup Under 18 Competition, which had 32 teams represented across the length and breadth of Oyo State, witnessed the presentation of certificates to all the participating teams.
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