Ondo: Stakeholders Slam Govt Over Planned Move To Sell Football Clubs

By Ayodele Oni

Stakeholders and fans of Ondo State government owned sunshine football club and sunshine queens have kicked against planned move to sell the teams.

They maintained that the decision of the State Government to sell off Sunshine Stars and Sunshine Queens is unpopular.

The state government had announced that the two teams would be put up for sale to interested members of the public

Both teams are currently playing at the Nigeria Professional Football League, (NPFL) and the Nigeria Women Professional Football League,(NWPFL)

Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Bamidele Ologunloluwa who disclosed this in Akure, said the state-owned football teams are open for sale or privatization to the right investors by the end of the ongoing 2022/2023 league season.

The commissioner pointed out that the clubs needed to be privatized for proper administration , a situation which may lead to the government handing off the clubs completely or partner with investors.

The Stakeholders who commended the Governor,  Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN for his achievements in other areas in the State, maintained that the current  score cards of the administration in football sector is not too impressive.

The Convener of Ondo State Football Stakeholders Forum and pioneer Secretary of Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA) Otunba Dele Ologbese said the Forum was tired of dissipating energy on engaging Government on what he described as its relentless display of naivety.

“It would be most appropriate to ask Governor Akeredolu to tell the whole world why he singlehandedly took such sensitive decision without inputs of Stakeholders and for him to point out any of his remarkable achievement in the sector since he assumed Office six years ago.

“This objective assessment is hinged on the fact that, he did a little in developing sports infrastructures and most importantly his inability to build Olympic size Stadium in the State like what immediate past Akwa Ibom State’s Governor, Goodwill Akpabio did by constructing an international Stadium in Uyo, while Sunshine Stars survived relegations every season in the last six years except last season which they finished 10th in Premier league.

“It’s high level insensitivity and breaching of social contract in disposing off Ondo State’s peoples treasures- Sunshine Stars and Sunshine Queens at a period other States in the country are striving to have teams in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL.

“It’s on records Stakeholders severally had engaged Ondo State Government on how Sunshine Stars can be properly repositioned and become self financing without necessarily relying on government’s funding but unfortunately Government never listened to counselings.

“Through his utterances and actions, the Governor is vehement in selling the two clubs outrightly and no Jupiter can stop him from going ahead with the planned action.

“It would be on record, that Stakeholders had always done the right thing in urging him not to carry out any action that could dent his records or hard earned integrity, if he refuses to listen to the voice of reasons or wisdom pertaining to this sensitive matter.

“Despite Mr Governor’s vehemence in pursuing this outrageous actions against the collective interests of Ondo State people, there’s still hope he would have quick rethink in not allowing the two cherished clubs go into extinction through his instrumentality.”