By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos
Barrister Rotimi Alli recounted on Friday during a session with sports journalists, how he would have been a professional football player if not for his Law programme.
Barr.Alli ,who spoke at the press conference of Ibadan Football Association (IFA) revealed that he captained the University of Ibadan Football team during his Law programme.
He stated further that so passionate was he about soccer, that after his graduation, played for the NYSC Team in Osun State where he had his Youth Service.
“I was discovered during an NYSC soccer tournament and picked and seconded to feature for the NYSC Abuja football team which was in one of the lower Divisions of the National League then.
I was really happy because it was my passion. I dropped everything concerning Law, though I was a Law graduate.
However, one morning after training,I was returning to the quarters alloted to me,and you know, I was looking dirty and unkempt with my soccer boots hanging round my neck,drenched in sweat, then I met them!”
He met three of his classmates from Law School and his alma mater,fully dressed with wig and gown and wink-collared shirts.
He continued that they looked at him and asked what happened to him as he looked so dirty with sand all over him. He said he replied them them he was coming from training ,and they asked if he was sure nothing was wrong with him as he abandoned his wig and gown to roll in the mud all in the name of following his passion to play football!
Libero,as he was fondly called by admirers because of his sublime skills and prowess in the defence said he was highly embarrassed and that was how he told his coach that he wanted out and left Abuja that same night to start his Law practice.
Barr. Alli later on started the Rotimi Alli Inter-Hall Football Championship in the University of Ibadan which held yearly.
