The driver for sending children to Aquinas in our days was based on the prestige of going to a top school in the locality. There were a few schools of the same standard around -Oyemekun, St Loius, Fiwasaiye but there was something about Aquinas, at least from our parent's view. Catholic school, recognized old students in society, a boarding school at the time, discipline. One that was never at the top of the list in those days was sports. in our days, sports was seen as a scourge 🥺. If your parents see you playing football and for an extended period, you are likely in for igbaju igbarun 🙆🏾♂️. So sports was not something that was pushed by society at the time. However, getting into Aquinas, was the DNA of the school. The school's prowess in Athletics is driven by Father Donning, the history in football based on the school's success in the Akintola cup in the late '60s and '70's, the history of the school's cricket in the late '70s, and the upcoming records in handball in the early '80s. The school was dripping with even sideline sports like table tennis, judo, lawn tennis, and basketball amongst other sports.
We all come into the school and we are split into houses. In our early years, we only had 4 hours (Eugene, Francis, John, and Micheals) in those days before it was expanded to 6 houses in our final years. Kids get involved in athletics because the inter-house sports are pushed quite early and every house wants to do well so seniors start to ask for kids to participate in trials. in football, it was easy. We play every day, and the creme de la creme starts to rise to the top based on daily games. it is quite funny that even in those days, we had tiers for football games during lunch hours. Using the English football tier system for analogy, the guys in League 2 and 1 played near their classrooms or the running tracks behind the football field with themselves. They are usually playing a small ball or osan as we termed in those days 🤣. There were some Championship level players with them, but they preferred to stay with their friends or hated the competitiveness at other levels. Then we have the Championship level, where they played in front of the old hall (close the pit latrines) and the Premiership played in front of Mrs. Ajibabi house in those days. The best played there but there were some elite players like Jide Fagbuyi, who watched most times, amused to see those improving with Adu Akinwumi sitting on the concrete stone under the tree, watching and dishing out factual points to those that have improved or dropping in form. His views may impact you being picked the next day 😆... I digress...
in those days, there were kids that were good at one sport and they rose to the top over the years as they excelled. Jide Jedon Fagbuyi in football. Funsho Giwa and Dayo Irunmu Adeleye in Athletics, Omololu Oxy Oyejide and Wumi ibembe Adu in cricket, Wale Orikenke Ogunleye and Bisi Eja Adelowo in Handball. You had those that were good in two sports and challenged at the highest level but there was Niyi Patani Akinwale. If we were handing out medals for competitiveness at top-level sports in those days, he will be like top Olympians with multiple medals Based on his ability and prowess.
Coming through St Michael's house, he was part of the relay team in Class 1 but since St Micheal came fourth in that race, his exploits were overlooked. He was quick, fit and kept a decent pace throughout. Being in 1U, his war with Kunle Kwara Pork turned to Romario Olutimehin in football was heard in the corridors of class 1 and continued in class 2. By SS1, Niyi's skills were known throughout the set. He was more of a Robin Van Persie, he can dribble, can hit thunderous shots, can read the game and yes, he had a temper and mean streak. Most defenders always think they know what he will do but it still gets through and his touch was decent. His eye for goal, second to none. Even Jide Fagbuyi wanted him on his team when they played local football. He was that good.
In handball, he is a warlord. By SS2, he was our best player by a margin, hammering goals from every angle and destroying teams in his trail. We can win games without him but they will be close but with him, it is a banker. In cricket, fewer exploits were done but his ability to play got into the team if it is for Aquinas. Does it end there? Basketball, he was there but his height put in the shadows of Lekan Jabar Lawal and others. Volleyball? Joins and because of his handball leaps, was a good front player to spike and block.
Niyi's exploits in sports got him representing Ondo State in Handall regularly and football occasionally. A regular in the school team, local clubs in football, and someone that was begged to play for OSUA in his days. It is sometimes unfortunate he came before football was money as he may have been one of those we see on TV. When I ask him what he sees when he plays, half of the time, I think he was analyzing another game as his IQ in sports was at another level. To us, we shouted Patani! Opposition tends to swap the "P" from his nickname to "S" because of the terror he brings in games. To us now, he has inherited his brother's nickname - Lulu J
There are sportsmen and there are great sportsmen. As much as I cherished most of them these guys in my set, I laud Niyi the most as the greatest of them all. Wanted by most in their team in all sports, delivers most of the time unless the few times the red mist descended 😡 (ask Niyi Falade what he says or Niyi himself what makes him lose it).
Niyi Akinwale - the man with many talents sportswise. There are other talents outside sports I can hold him accountable for and be good at (enu mi ko ni won ti maa gbo pe Iya teacher ku 😳). My padi for life - osuba e ree... 🙌🏾
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