Ondo State Football Association has urged the state government to return the funding for grassroots football to the state sports council, instead of the state football agency.
The Chairman of the State Football Association, Otunba Dele Ajayi stated this at the 20th Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the association in Akure on Thursday.
Ajayi noted that the government had not been meeting its financial obligations to the state football association by giving the funds meant for the association to the Ondo State Football Agency.
The chairman revealed that the law that set up the state football agency gave room for representation of the state football association on the board of the agency, which the government had also not fulfilled in recent times.
“The law that set up the agency specified that the football association should have its member on the board of the agency,” he said.
Ajayi also urged all football stakeholders in the state to be united in developing football across the 18 local governments of the state.
Responding, Mr Bamidele Ologun, the state Commissioner for Youth and sports Development, said all the request would be attended to at the appropriate time.
Ologun assured the stakeholders that the state sports complex would be renovated in no distant time, and Sunshine Stars would soon return to Akure.
Sunshine Stars are currently playing their home matches at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode because league management company did not approve of Akure stadium.
He also revealed that the governor had approved the advertisement to bid for the total renovation of the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure.
“We take grassroots football development as priority, we will continue to encourage indigenous talents,” he said .
In his goodwill message, Mr Henry Babatunde, the General Manager of the State Sports Council, urged the association to bring in private investors into their developmental plan.
Babatunde noted that sports development could not be left in the hand of the government alone.
The general manager commended the association for their achievements in the last one year and their robust relationship with all the football clubs in the state.
The 1st Vice President of the NFF, Barr. Seyi Akinwumi in his goodwill message commended the State FA for various developmental programmes at the grassroots.
Akinwunmi, represented by the Vice Chairman of the Ondo State FA, Barr. Aderemi Adetula later called for unity in the football fraternity of Ondo State.
Finally I will like to commend the Ondo State FA for the various programs particularly the coaching programs that have taken place in the past year, however I charge you to do even more in the coming year,” he said
