Oyo State To Host Ayo Olopon As 32 Ayo Players Jostle For Honour.

A total of 32 Ayo Olopon players will converge in Oyo State for the second edition of the Seaman's Schnapp National Ayo Championship scheduled for 16 through 22nd of this month at the Plaza De Aruna Hotel.

President of Traditional Sports Federation, Mohammed Baba Abdulahi, at a press conference on Monday at the media centre of the National Stadium, said the choice of Oyo State was marshal out after the maiden editioin in Edo State at Oba Akenzua Hall, in September, 2011, stressing that it behoves on the Federation to take the game to greate height because Ayo Olopon is so much loved across the country and there is no age limit.

While commending the sponsor, Grand Oak Limited for unflinching support to the game, Abdullahi, said the sponsor had been able to partner them with the view of elevating the standard of the game at a time when they were bedevilled with lack of sponsors, adding that the Federation would not relent in its efforts to attract sponsors to popularise Abula, Dambe, Kokowa and Langa.

The Marketing Diretor of Grand Oak Limited, Aare Fatai Odesile, said the championship was a culmination of years of consistent propagation of Ayo game by Seaman's Schnapps across the country Seaman's Tota Tope Opon Ayo game.

While claiming that the company's interest is in the deep rooted traditional and cultural renaissance the game invokes, the company Marketing Director, said the partnership with the Traditional Sports Federation of Nigeria was enduring one aimed at elevating the game to the Commonwealth Games level.

The competition which would feature five events in the Singles, Doubles and Mixed doubles would also honour Ayo players who are well dressed and entertaining as the tournament is opened to Ayo players who have won medals at the National Sports Festivals.

The Ambassador of Alafin of Oyo, Aare Ayanlakin, who commended the sponsor and the Federation for deeming it necessary to stage the event at Oyo State, said the players and officials would be given a first class treatment and