Sahel Sports News special: *HOW SPECIAL IT IS TO REJOICE AND CELEBRATE WITH CHIEF KASALI OBANOYEN*
A creature of God, leaves a good legacy which is implanted in the lives of people, most especially those whose paths cross his. The creature is remembered with these things:
The good words he has spoken into the lives of people which have lifted the souls, bodies and spirits of such personalities and have catapulted them from their valleys of obscurity to the mountain tops of prosperity, fame, honour and success.
The good deeds of such a being in the lives of people around him in his place of worship, among family members and friends, others, which have transported them from their backward past to a progressive future.
The level of charity he has doled out to people through his generosity and philanthropic gestures.
Blessed is the creature who doles out such charity on people without thinking about it, or making reference to such, and blessed is the same person that receives from people, and most especially from God without failing to show appreciation. Chief Kasali Obanoyen is this person.
There are three categories of people in the world namely:
Those who create problems for, or in the lives of people.
Those who see the problems in the lives of people, though they are not the ones who put the problems there, but do nothing to remove the problems and
Those who identify the problems in the lives of people and try all means to remove such problems. God has created these people as succour.
Yes,Chief Kasali Obanoyen belongs to the third group.
Most people have that erroneous impression that it’s when they become millionaires or billionaires before they can bail people out of their quagmire. This is quite wrong. One does not have to be one before helping.
Chief Kasali Obanoyen was not born *with a silver spoon* in his mouth. Was he even born *with a wooden spoon?* Not at all. From a humble beginning, he was determined to succeed and help humanity. He never allowed his *BACKGROUND to put his BACK ON THE GROUND* Despite his parents not being educated, he rose from the ground from where such his parental disposition had almost grounded him, determined to put his footprints 👣 on the sand of times.
He rose through the ranks and later served as Chairman of Sunshine Football Club Akure for many years. He took his sporting acumen to a greater heights in the corridors of the NPFL by serving in different capacities.
Now that he has achieved his aims in such fields, he has decided to sacrifice his means, resources, time and energy in the service of mankind. His first port of call is the school that showed him the paths to follow. His investments in the areas of sports in the college and other areas are immeasurable. He confessed and confirmed that what he is doing is just a tip of the iceberg to what he still intends to do.
He told me that the school helped him in discovering and maximising his potentials in the field of sports, drama, public speaking and journalism some of which are giving him his daily income today.
Many times in the past and even now, he, in conjunction with the *IRON LADY B, BOSE ADEBAYO* has set up many competitions in sports and academics. The purpose is to *UNEARTH THE HIDDEN, CELEBRATE THE UNSUNG AND BEAM THE SHINNING LIGHT TO THE BRILLIANCE AND EXCELLENCE OF THE OVERLOOKED, UNSIGHTED, OR OVERSIGHTED* This, both have done by pumping their resources into them as incentives.
In sports development in the school, the situation is the same. Chief Kasali Obanoyen and Iron Lady B, Bose Adebayo, have been instrumental to the setting up of the Sports Committee. Both have pooled their resources together to purchase for the school jerseys, hoses and boots that run into millions of naira. They have been able to do this by appealing to some old students to send their donations towards this. The likes of Kolade Adesida and others have responded to their clarion call.
One trait which I admire in him is that despite his long years of sojourn in America, he has not forgotten his roots.
He is very versed in both English language and our Ọwọ language. In fact, l consult him most times to help me recover some of the Owo expressions that have disappeared from my lexicon. He has never let me down in this area. The video below is an attestation to his perfect choreographic steps to one of the musical renditions in Owo. Though I never sought his permission to release it, but I am sure he will forgive me for my excesses.
Please join me to celebrate this icon on his birthday today Wednesday 18th December.
*ONCE AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY*
*Diipo Akinwunmi ’74*
