Football stakeholders in Ondo State have assured the board of the newly inaugurated state football agency, ODSFA, of their support in ensuring that Sunshine Stars, Sunshine Queens, and the youth teams succeed ahead of the new football season.
The stakeholders gave this assurance during a meeting held with different football associations and the Ondo State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, while congratulating the ODSFA board, said the ministry will work with the agency to ensure that Sunshine Stars and other state teams succeed.
He said, “We are one big family, and we must continue to work together for the development of football in the state.”
Yusuf-Ogunleye thanked the Governor for appointing people of impeccable character and professionalism to the board.
“I know the abilities of members of the board; they are people with the needed experience in the game of football.”
The Chairman of the Ondo State Football Association, Otunba Dele Ajayi, charged the ODSFA board to begin preparations for the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier League football season early.
Ajayi added that the management of Sunshine Stars should ensure they recruit quality players for the season.
The executive member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) added that the state FA will play its role effectively to ensure that both Sunshine Stars and Sunshine Queens have a good season.
Other stakeholders include Sunshine Stars, Sunshine Queens supporters club, the Referee Association, the Coaches Association, and the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
All the associations promised to work with the newly inaugurated board to ensure that the set goals are achieved.
In response, the Executive Chairman of ODSFA, Hon. Bamidele Ologunloluwa assured the football stakeholders of support in discovering more talents at the grassroots level.
Ologunloluwa sought the cooperation of the stakeholders to ensure that Sunshine Stars perform well in the NPFL and that Sunshine Queens get promoted to the elite league.
He disclosed that the agency would soon organize a preseason seminar for all football stakeholders through the football association.
“We have talents in all the nooks and crannies of the state. We need to have more grassroots football development programmes.
“We will be working together, and there will be cooperation,” he said.
Femi Atolagbe
Sunshine Stars
Media Officer