Sports
Evolution Cup: Dimeji Lawal Receives Award on behalf of Late Boss Rasheed Balogun
The indelible mark left by the late General Manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Rasheed Balogun, has continued to attract honours for the late football administrator.
Latest in the roll call of honours for the former Julius Berger, Dolphins and Sunshine Stars bigwig,, who passed on in January, was a posthumous award, given to him by the organisers of the Evolution Cup.
The presentation of the award took place during the halftime of the Oluyole Warriors’ midweek cracker against Rangers International, played at the Lekan Salami Stadium.
While presenting the award to the acting General Manager of the club, Dimeji Lawal, coordinator of Evolution Cup, Olatoye Olawale (Sportflames), said the gesture was in appreciation of the contribution of the late Balogun, fondly called “Ekulekule”, to the round leather game in the country.
While receiving the award on behalf of his late boss, Lawal, fondly called Kabongo, who was close to tears, expressed appreciation to the organisers of the Evolution Cup for bestowing the honour on the late astute football administrator.
The acting 3SC GM, was also decorated with a medal, an honour bestowed on him by Evolution Cup in recognition of his contributions to the development of football in Nigeria.
Sports
“ This Award Gives Me Hope” Makanjuola Nureni Honoured for His Dedication to Nigerian Sports
Abuja-based football administrator and philanthropist, Makanjuola Nureni, has been honoured with the Distinguished Service Award by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in recognition of his outstanding support to sports journalism and his immense contributions to sports development in Nigeria.
The prestigious award was presented on Friday in Abuja during SWAN’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration held in Abuja, marking 60 years of promoting sports journalism and excellence across the nation.
Expressing his gratitude after receiving the honour, Makanjuola Nureni described the award as a source of inspiration and renewed motivation to continue his lifelong commitment to youth and grassroots sports.
“This award gives me hope and motivation to do more. It’s a source of inspiration to me and my supporters, and I believe it will encourage us to invest more in youth sports development in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that the recognition serves as a morale booster after decades of hard work and silent impact in the sports community.
“I feel happy and fulfilled because we have been doing this for decades, and many times, our efforts went unnoticed. But I thank God that SWAN recognized people like us,” Nureni expressed.
Makanjuola Nureni is the founder and owner of Water FC Academy, a renowned football institution based in Abuja that focuses on discovering, nurturing, and empowering young Nigerian talents.
Through Water FC, he has developed and sponsored numerous players who have gone on to represent Nigeria’s national teams and play professionally in clubs across Africa, Europe, and beyond.
His consistency, passion, and investment in the development of young athletes have made him a key figure in Nigerian grassroots football.
In presenting the award, SWAN commended Nureni’s unwavering dedication to the growth of sports and his continuous support for sports journalism and youth empowerment.
The association highlighted his decades-long service to football development and described him as a true partner in the promotion of excellence within Nigerian sports.
The SWAN Diamond Jubilee Celebration brought together prominent figures from sports administration, the media, and government sectors to honour individuals and organizations whose contributions have advanced sports development and journalism in Nigeria.
Nureni’s recognition stands out as a testament to his vision, consistency, and commitment to creating opportunities for young athletes and strengthening the foundation of Nigerian football.
With this honour, Makanjuola Nureni further cements his legacy as one of the foremost private contributors to sports growth and youth development in Nigeria.
His story continues to inspire a new generation of sports administrators and philanthropists dedicated to transforming Nigerian sports from the grassroots up.
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