Grasses of the Ilorin stadium suffered when the Kwara State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) were on Saturday forced to a 1-1 draw by the State Referees Council in an encounter to mark the 90th birthday of retired FIFA-badged referee and the first Chairman in the state, Pa Gabriel B. Ladipo.

The SWAN team struck in the second half through Sherif Ibrahim of Radio Kwara who connected a corner kick taken by Ibrahim Gbodofu.

The Referees mistakenly equalised few minutes to the end of the encounter from the spot kick.

Speaking at the ceremony, the State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Pharmacist Kale Ayo, praised the organisers of the competition saying that nothing was too much to celebrate the first Chairman of the State Sports Council.

Pharmacist Kale Ayo eulogised Pa Ladipo for his contributions to sports development in the State adding that the present administration would build on the solid foundation laid by the founding fathers.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the State Football Association, Mallam Busari Ishola commended Pa Ladipo for his great contributions to sports in the State and the nation at large.

He urged Nigerians to emulate his sterling qualities which include humility and embrace sports.

The programme was attended by former students of the then Government Technical Training School Ilorin (GTTS) where he was the first black Principal. That school transmuted to become the current mini campus of the University of Ilorin. Several retired and serving sports personalities across the country also graced the anniversary.