BY SULAIMON OLABISI MUYINAT
As Kwara United prepares for their historic showdown against Abakaliki FC in the final of the 2025 President Federation Cup, a heartfelt message has come from one of the club’s respected former leaders, Alhaji Suleiman Toyin Olokoba, former Chairman of Kwara United Football Club.
In a passionate statement, Olokoba reminded the team of the importance of staying focused, emphasizing that “it’s not over until it’s over.” Drawing from his own experiences at the helm, he urged the players and technical crew not to underestimate Abakaliki FC, a side that has defied all odds to reach the final from the preliminary rounds.
“For a team like Abakaliki to have journeyed from the preliminary stage to the final, it means they are not pushovers. In finals like this, you don’t look at names; you look at performance and determination. The boys must give it everything—total commitment, tactical discipline, and heart,” Olokoba warned.
He expressed joy that the team had already sought royal blessings at the Emir’s Palace, describing it as a significant spiritual step. “Yes, we have prayed. But in football, it’s not just about prayer. If you pray well and don’t play well, you will lose. But if you pray well and play well, the Lord of Soccer will be on your side—because a winner must always emerge,” he said.
Olokoba, who once guided the team to the quarterfinals alongside Technical Adviser Tunde Sani, described this final as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “People talk about 1976, but let’s set the record straight—Kwara United never played a final until now. What happened in 1976 was a semifinal between Rangers and Abdulsalam Rocks. This, right here, is history in the making.”
He went further to reveal a divine conviction he shared earlier in the year with the current Chairman, Kumbi Titiloye. “I told Kumbi at the beginning of the year: write it down, this is your season of glory. Somehow, someway, you are picking a trophy this year. This is your moment.”
As the June 28 final draws near, Olokoba pledged to join the Harmony Boys in Lagos to offer his full support, expressing hope that the victory will not only bring pride to Kwara State but also usher the team into continental football via the CAF Confederation Cup.
“With faith, focus, and fight, the trophy is coming to Ilorin. I believe it. I see it. And I will be there to witness it,” he concluded.
