The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development and Founder of Smart City FC, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has called on members of the football community, friends and associates of the late Alhaji Kamaldeen Adio Olawoye, popularly known as Lobito/120 Goals, to use his forthcoming Eight-Day Fidau prayer as an opportunity to celebrate a life dedicated to football, friendship and service.
The Fidau prayer for the late football administrator, who passed away at the age of 69, will hold on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Rowe Park Sports Centre, 206 Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, Lagos.
Read Also: SSA Adeboye Mourns Alhaji Kamaldeen Olawoye, Describes Him as One of Smart City FC’s Greatest Pillars
For Hon. Adeboye, the gathering will be more than a traditional Islamic prayer. It will be a moment for the Smart City FC family and the wider football community to reflect on the life of a man who spent a significant part of his years contributing to the growth of the club and supporting the development of young footballers.
Alhaji Olawoye was one of the long-serving figures in the history of Smart City FC and served the club in a senior administrative capacity as Chief Operating Officer, bringing years of experience, loyalty and institutional knowledge to the club.
Speaking ahead of the Fidau, Hon. Adeboye said the occasion would provide an opportunity to properly celebrate the memory of a man whose contribution to the Smart City story cannot be separated from the history of the club itself.
“We are gathering to pray for Kamaldeen, but we are also gathering to remember the man he was and the life he lived. He was part of our journey, and there are chapters in the history of Smart City that his name will always be attached to.”
The SSA recalled that the late Olawoye remained closely connected to Smart City FC even after he was asked to take a step back from active responsibilities last year, following many years of dedicated service.
According to him, the decision was largely informed by age and the need to allow the veteran administrator to enjoy a quieter period after years of commitment to the club.
“Kamaldeen gave Smart City many years of his life. At a certain point, we felt he had done enough and deserved to take things easier. But stepping away from active responsibilities did not mean stepping away from the family. He remained part of us.”
Hon. Adeboye said the news of Olawoye’s death was particularly painful because it came while the Smart City team was preparing for training at the National Stadium, Lagos.
The training session was immediately suspended as a mark of respect, after which the Founder and members of the club proceeded to the hospital to identify with the family and share in their grief.
He described that moment as one that reminded everyone of the strong bond that exists within the Smart City family.
“The moment we heard the news, football stopped. It was no longer about training or the next match. It was about one of our own. We went straight to the hospital because that was what family demanded.”
As the Eight-Day Fidau approaches, Adeboye urged members of the football community, former players, coaches, administrators, friends and associates of the deceased to come together in prayer and remembrance.
He prayed that Almighty Allah forgive the shortcomings of the deceased, accept his good deeds and grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus, while giving his family the strength to bear the loss.
“His story is now part of our story. His memory will remain with Smart City, and one of the best ways we can honour him is to continue giving young people the opportunities in football that men like Kamaldeen believed in.”
The Eight-Day Fidau Prayer for Late Alhaji Kamaldeen Adio Olawoye will hold as follows:
Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
Venue: Rowe Park Sports Centre
Address: 206 Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, Lagos
The Smart City FC family extends an invitation to friends, football stakeholders, associates and well-wishers to join the family in prayer and remembrance.
May Almighty Allah grant Alhaji Kamaldeen Adio Olawoye eternal rest and grant his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear his loss.
