By Tunde Oyedele –
The name BATECDA Sports Clubs hovers around Tinubu Estate, Odonla in Ikorodu, but getting popular mostly in the Badminton circle in Lagos State. The Club is gradually creeping into Nigeria, nay the continent of Africa, and by extension staging a big show that rest of the world would see soon.
The story of the club could be likened to that of the mustard seed which, tiny as it is, brings forth a big tree when it germinates. Like the Biblical mustard seed, BATECDA Sports Club is fast growing to an enviable height; this is obvious from the steady development of activities at its training Courts inside Tinubu Estate.
Photo: BATECDA Sports Club President Kyari Jubrin, happy for developments so far. –
A major landmark of BATECDA Sports Club’s breakthrough is its official registration as a corporate entity by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The full registration was done this year under the current Executives led by its President Kyari Jibrin, who doubles as Chairman of the Trustees. Arowolo Oluwaseun Damilola the General Secretary of the club also doubles as Secretary of the Trustees while Adekeye Muideen (Coach of the Club), Akande Olalekan Bamidele Mohammed and Adekoya Adesesan Emmanuel complete the list of Trustees that gave BATECDA its official recognition at the CAC.
Photo: Coach Muideen (Alata) with members of BATECDA Sports Club. –
Notably, BATECDA has not fallen short of it’s mission which include; ‘the unity of community members through various sporting activities, fostering a sense of camaraderie/social cohesion, and to advance the development of its members’ sporting pursuits by providing coaching, training and other related activities’.
Another key point in the club’s achievements so far include the gradual recruitment drive which has seen membership profile rise from nowhere to over 50 active financial members, while the children’s department is likely to double that figure soon.
At BATECDA, there is high connectivity which has enhanced growth in the businesses of individual members and above all, the friendship that bound members as an entity.
Interestingly, BATECDA Sports Club members play with passion. They engage in various sports such as; Badminton, Table Tennis, Football, Chess, while some others engage in boxing and other sporting activities. Facilities for the mentioned sports are being developed inside Tinubu Estate.
Photo: Members of the Club do play football matches too. –
One unique thing about members of this Club is that they look fascinating anytime they don their newly branded green/black BATECDA jerseys. The Men here are handsomely masculine with a no-nonsense display during games while the beautiful ladies at the club have class and dress-sense.
BATECDA members often engage in various competitions both within themselves and sometimes outside Tinubu Estate. They also engage in excursions, which has taken them to places like the National Stadium in Surulere, Police College in Ikeja, where their members engaged members of other teams from Railway Badminton Club and Kwara State to mention just a few. BATECDA Club members have also taken part in an exchange program where they hosted and paid a visit to a Badminton Club at Festac Town, Lagos State.
Photo: John Osaile receiving his live chicken won during a tournament. –
Muideen Adekeye (Alata) is a reputable leader and Coach of the Club, who oversees proceedings during badminton training and tournaments.
During an in-house mini tournament held recently, Oluwole Osaile (Treasurer) was adjudged number one player in the Senior Men’s category while Bola Etsano (Lady B) emerged the best in the female category. After such tournaments, rewards are given to deserving members for their excellence. Interestingly, crates of eggs, live chickens were won during the last tournament, while exercise books and other gifts were handed to the children during the previous events.
The Club is blessed with other top male players such as Ali Suleima, Mohammed Adams, Mohammed Reme (EFCC), Kyari Jibrin (Mr. President), Wahab Ayilara (Vice President), Az Biola (Financial Secretary), Alhaji Ali, Kehinde Awodiya, Peter (OPP), Sani Mohammed, Damilola Arowolo (Secretary), Victor Ucee (Ex-President) and US-based Christian Udom (Ex-President).
Photo: Bola (Lady B) receiving her live chicken. –
There are strong members such as Badminton Captain Larry Sunmola (LSD), Abubakar Aliyu, Tunde Oyedele, Mayowa (Mayor), Mr. Clement, Ayo Fatunla, Pastor Henry (HM!), Ifili Lucky, Engineer Falola Lateef, Dr. Elvis, Akande Olalekan (Lion), Hon. Adesesan Adekoya, Adekoya Adedeji Dr Immaculate, John Sonuyi, John Ukor, Alhaji Adebayo, Hon. Ola Jacobs, Jeffrey Emmanuel, Ken Edim, Mr. Rafeal, Sunday, Abolaji Ariyo, Pa Owei, Tayo Play Play, and the others.
The ladies are not left out; beautiful damsels such as Itunuola (OJ Makanacky), Jadesola, Oge Nwachukwu, Kehinde (DYB), HM2, Adijat Teslim, Jamani, Doris (Nurse in the house), and many more making the Club thick.
Photo: Boxing Coach Tayo Play Play (In Blue) celebrating with BATECDA members after one of his boxers’ victory at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. –
Amongst the emerging talents at BATECDA Sports Club are youngsters such as Hassan, the Reme brothers; Suleiman & Mustapher, Kalifa Ali, Ibrahim Ali, Osaile Junior, Clement Junior, Jabir, Asiyah Kyari and her sister, Alfred (who is already making waves in Benin Republic), where he’s pursuing his academics and a host of others. The younger Suleiman Reme defied all odds to beat even senior players to win a crate of eggs recently.
Photo: Master Suleiman Reme receiving a crate of eggs for his effort. –
Trust BATECDA, they don’t abandon themselves, especially during trying times. Members of this Club celebrate and mourn together. The presence of BATECDA is always felt with support and gifts whenever members mark their Birthdays, marriage ceremonies, burials and other ceremonies.
Photo: BATECDA Muslim brothers during the 2023 Eid-El Kabir celebrations. –
Another head-moving thing about BATECDA is that there’s no Religious discrimination; this is a Sports Club where Muslims and Christians fraternize freely and pray together for a common goal.
Meanwhile, BATECDA Sports Club is currently being run through donations from members, monthly dues and sometimes fines, but the Executives are working hard to get quality sponsors who would help to shoulder high further developments at the playing arena.
The main target of the Kyari-led Executives is to get the Courts covered and developed to standard playing arena, where talents would be discovered and nurtured to international stars. That’s the dream everyone is living in BATECDA.