Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of South-East and South-South, Moses Jitoboh has received the Command Secondary School and SportsFlames Sports Man Of The Year Award.
Jitoboh a member of the 1987 Set received the award on Saturday in Lagos after his secondary school classmates defeated the 1984 Set (their seniors) 3-0 in a novelty football match played at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium in Surulere Lagos.
According to DIG Jitoboh after receiving the Award at the Legacy Pitch inside National Stadium Surulere, he expressed joy and excitement.
In his words," I'm delighted and honoured to have received this award. The only way I can show my appreciation to the organizers of this award is to do more for sports with which I have a passion.
" Anything that is done for the promotion of sports is never small. We plan to upgrade the Command Secondary School football pitch. We are working on it and at the right time, works should commence on it."
The DIG thinks that the youths can use the Police Force as a platform to achieve their dreams in Sports.
" Recall I was a former national basketball player, I slammed and dunked at the highest level in Nigeria as I was the captain of the Police Team. Sports drives me and not just me but my family. My two kids are in the United States playing basketball.
" I was also formerly in charge of Police Sports, if you look at the different sports in Nigeria, you will find an athlete (male or female) who is in the force and have gone ahead to win laurels for the country.
As regards the 1987 Set, who have gone four novelty matches unbeaten, "One unique thing about the 1987 Set is the camaraderie amongst ourselves and sure a few present for the novelty match have come from far as Europe and America. I flew into Lagos from Abuja and others from Port-Harcourt not just for the game but to see ourselves.
" The meeting is not just about sports, which of course is the unifying factor, life and helping ourselves to greatness."
Captain of the winning 1987 Set, Femi Barry after the game said: "Our team was and still the only side that has played in the quarter-final round of the Lagos Principals Cup, losing to MBHS at the Onikan Stadium (now Mobolaji Johnson Arena).
" The previous novelty matches we have played were against our juniors, while this is first against our seniors. We were too fit for them, Dele Awoshika, Eniola and I scored. In the second half, we were just doing the passing. I think we have to pause our play as any set that wants to play against the 87 Set must go four games unbeaten before they think of challenging us, as we are true champions.
Reacting to the 3-0 defeat, David who led the 84 Set teams out said, "I knew we will lose as when I saw them, the 87 Set team looked fit unlike us. Some of us were meeting ourselves again for teams 30 or 35 years. The novelty game was fun, I used to be the captain of the school football team, did not pursue a career in football as I chose to do God's work."
Also, Managing Partner Sportflames Communications and Football Events Consultant to Command Secondary School Ipaja,
Olawale Olatoye said: " It's a well-deserving award to DIG Moses Jitoboh who has contributed to sports in Nigeria as a former boss of Police Sports.
" Sportflames objectives is to always encourage and support exceptional personalities, put smiles on faces by contributing to sports Development, we love giving back to the industry by appreciating and embracing hard work with massive efforts, not in competition with anyone, just doing what we love to do."
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