NPFL Goal King Anthony Okpotu receives Rashidi Yekini GoldenBoot Award

Lobi Stars striker, Anthony Okpotu, has received the Rashidi Yekini Golden Boot award for emerging the highest goal scorer of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The award was presented to Okpotu, in Ibadan at a colourful ceremony held at the media centre of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, and witnessed by top football personalities including one of the daughters of the late Victoria Setubal of player, Yemi Yekini.

The award which is instituted in honour of the late Super Eagles striker, Yekini was previously won by former Warri Wolves striker, Gbolahan Salami and ex-Wikki Tourists forward, Godwin Obaje last season.

Okpotu also received N100,000 cash prize aside the Golden Boot courtesy of the Rashidi Yekini Foundation (RYF).

Speaking after receiving the award, Okpotu had good wors for the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner.

“Yekini to me is a living legend who makes goal scoring easier during his playing days. I didn’t have the opportunity of watching him as a player, but for ‘YouTube’, where I was able to watch him in action.

“He remains Nigeria all-time highest goal scorer but we have not celebrated him the way it should be. I thank the organisers for initiating this award that has served as a platform to celebrate this soccer hero every year, said Okpotu

“I am happy to win this award and I want to do more next season. This is a challenge and I hope to score more than 19 goals next season God willing,” said Okpotu,

Oyo State Sports Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Barrister Yomi Oke, congratulated the winner of the Golden Boot award, Okpotu, and urged him to look beyond the award and give his best on the field of play come next season.

Also, ex-international, Dr Felix Owolabi (MON), lauded RYF for organising the programme as annual event, just as he charged the football authorities in Nigeria to put a proper structure in place to groom young talents.