By George Akpayen
A remarkable family story is unfolding in Ilorin, the base of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) outfit, Kwara United with three brothers set to work side by side in the backroom setup of the club for the new season.
The three siblings behind this fascinating and unique story are Segun Ojokojo Adekeye, Yinka Ojokojo Adekeye and Oladipo Ojokojo Adekeye. NPFL.com.ng was informed that they are sons to the same father and mother from the ancestral compound of Ile Esho Pataki in the town of Offa.
Already the siblings are working with shared ambition behind the scenes by adding their expertise to the Harmony Boys’ preparation for the new season.
THEIR ROLES AT KWARA UNITED
Prior to the coming season, Segun and Yinka Ojokojo were in the payroll of the club as physiotherapist and chief scout respectively while Oladipo, whom many refer to as Ladi, worked at the Kwara Football Academy as coach until he was appointed in July this year as assistant coach to head coach, Ashifat Suleiman ahead of the new season.
Interestingly, all three brothers played football at some level including for Kwara United. It is understood that Segun opted to become a physiotherapist after his career was truncated by an injury and that inspired his interest in helping to rehabilitate, maintain and improve the physical fitness of players.
Yinka, on the other hand, after quitting the game delved into scouting of emerging talents in the sport and that has earned him his place among the backroom staff at the club.
However, Ladi arrives at Kwara United with quite an impressive CV having played for Doyin Babes, Kwara Stars and Kwara United as a striker. His coaching story began from the grassroots before being hired as coach at Kwara Football Academy.
Ladi is highly respected among the coaching circles in Kwara and is expected to add quality to the technical department of the team in the coming campaign.
WHAT LADI BRINGS TO THE TABLE
Ladi’s philosophy of the game speaks for him during his time at Kwara Football Academy. He believes in combining talent, hard work, skills, mental conditioning and team cohesion in getting the best out of his players.
The young coach, who attended Tawakalitu Grammar School in Offa, will experience his first elite-level in coaching unlike his brothers who have been in the system already.
Kwara United media director, Ayodele Ismail said the addition of the trio to the backroom staff is not just only unique but also underscores the club’s policy to identify young and competent minds to help in their ambition for the coming season.
”The story of the Ojokojos is a unique one in our league. Segun and Yinka were already with us and their brother Ladi joined us in the off-season. It is historic and at the same time, they bring quality to the backroom staff of our club because they’re quality addition to Kwara United,” he told NPFL.com.ng.
The Ojokojos will work together for the first time in a pre-season tournament, Gusau/Ahlan Cup, in Katsina billed to start this Friday, according to Ismail but they will not be judged by the outcome of that outing.
Instead, when the season starts on August 28, the three brothers will sit in the dugout every matchday chasing the same goal for Kwara United by working behind the scenes and hoping that their work, by which they will be judged, impact on the club.