Date: 2015-07-17

Kwara State chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has commended League Management Company for bringing back the sweet memories of the contributions of late Rashidi Yekini to the development of football in Nigeria.

Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Mallam Shehu Dikko on Monday said the league is very close to the official unveiling of the Rasheed Yekini trophy for the highest goal scorer as part of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Awards which the board approved at its meeting in June.

In a statement by Kwara SWAN, signed by the Chairman, Bunmi Adedoyin and the Secretary, Jimoh Bashir, the body applauded the move, adding that it’s a way of keeping the memories of the late striker alive.

Late Yekini, who haioled from Irra, in Oyun Local Government of Kwara state started his football career with United Textile Mills Limited (UNTL) Kaduna before teaming up with the then IICC Shooting Stars, now Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan and finally, the defunct Abiola Babes before he joined Africa Sports of Cote d’ Ivoire.

Born on October 23, 1963, the one-time Africa Footballer of the Year died on May 4, 2012.

After his glorious playing days abroad, he still came back to add value to the domestic league by playing for Gateway Insurance FC for three seasons.

'We want to commend LMC for immortalizing the great striker and former African Footballer of the Year, who contributed immensely to the game of football in Nigeria, Africa and the world' the statement added.

Late Yekini scored a total of 37 goals in 58 appearances for the country and demonstrated exemplary character and commitment throughout his career.

The LMC Chairman disclosed that a monetary incentive and other social benefits will be attached to the awards, adding that in the case of the highest goal scorer award, "we have received a request from the Rasheed Yekini Foundation to provide additional cash support to the winner and we are studying their proposal. There are already plans to officially unveil the special trophy for this award at one of the league game venues".

Dikko said the NPFL Awards is a long term project of the LMC open to corporate sponsors in both headline and other supporting categories for which some corporate firms are already holding talks with the LMC on their potential participation in the NPFL Awards.