A US based Ikaram-born sports philanthropist who bagged the Akoko Sportman of the year, Chief Dr Odomode Adeyemi Ololade Ibiobamimo Opemipo LaCrown has done it again. Chief Opemipo LaCrown is the convener of Ikaram marathon and the founder/owner of Odomode Adeyemi LaCrown International Football Academy. He’s the sole sponsor of Akoko Unity Cup, which has entered its third season this year.
At the time that the Sunshine Stars of Ondo state was battling relegation in the Premier league, with few matches to go, Chief Opemipo LaCrown got wind of it and reached out to the management of the team to inform the players that for every goal scored in a way to secure a win and avoid relegation, he would gift the team a sum of one hundred thousand naira, (#100,000) The message got to the team, and it was a big morale booster.
In the first encounter that Sunshine Stars had with Remo Stars on Sunday, June 16 after the promise, they scored two goals as against one by the opponent. Thus, they made for themselves Two hundred thousand naira, (#200,000.00) to move to No. 11 on the Premier league standing. The promise was extended towards the match against DOMA Football club of Gombe. Sunshine Stars was victorious with a goal of one. This effort of the boys moved the team, which had been battling relegation in the previous week to No. 9 on the table. This also guarantees their stay in the division one league of the NPPFL.
Chief Opemipo LaCrown, true to his words, redeemed his pledge and handed over a sum of three hundred thousand naira to the team on Sunday, 23rd of June, 2024.
Confirming Chief Opemipo LaCrown’s rare gesture to the Sunshine stars, The Chairman, Sunshine Stars Tactical Committee, Pastor Henry Akingboju described the U.S based sports promoter as one of the few Ondo state indigenes who have rescued the team from diving into relegation.
Pastor Akingboju thanked Chief Opemipo LaCrown for fulfilling his promise to the team, saying the gesture would go a long way in encouraging the players to perform better in subsequent matches
The Sunshine Stars Tactical committee chairman called on other influential Ondo state Indigenes to emulate Chief Opemipo LaCrown by being supportive to whatever that would bring pride to the State, especially in the area of sports.