By Adekola Afolabi & Femi Atolagbe

|

Ondo state government has refuted the rumour making the rounds that it has sold Sunshine Stars Football Club as a three man committee was set up yesterday for the State Football Agency.
The committee is to reposition the agency for optimum performance and result oriented.
The committee set up at the instance of the state Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is to take over the affairs of the Ondo State Football Agency (OSFA) and by extension, the Sunshine Football Club and the Sunshine Queens.
The Committee is headed by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Ayeidatiwa, who is the chairman, while the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Charles Titiloye are members.
Consequently, the former board and management of OSFA has been dissolved.
Yesterday the players of the Sunshine Stars Football Club had earlier in the day protested their unpaid salaries and allowances as well as alleged selling of the club by the government.
The players were led by the Team Captain, Mr Sunday Abe. The Assistant Coach of the team, Kayode Julius was also present.
Speaking with the Government House reporters after the meeting with the team leaders, the government delegation led by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, disclosed that government was only looking for investors and partnership to invest in the Sunshine Stars Football Club to improve the club in terms of welfare of players and general performance of the Club.
Also present at the meeting were the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale and the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogo.
He assured that government would continue to boot the morale of the players and improve their confidence for better result.
The Sunshine Stars Captain, Sunday Abe, who expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting with the government, added that it was now clear to them that what Governor Akeredolu was doing was to look for investors and partnership to further develop the Club for better performance.
He stressed that they were happy that government was concerned and passionate about the welfare of football team and the entire crew, adding that the partnership would benefit the team.
“We have found out that there was no plan to sell the team, and the deputy Governor has just told us this. He has told us to concentrate on our games”, the Captain stressed.
On his part, the Chief Coach of the team, Kayode Julius, appreciated the government delegation for their love and care, even as he agreed with the government that the best way to go is to look for investors and partners to support the government for better results.
“What we thought before was wrong. But now we thank the Governor because we now have a better understanding of what government is trying to do. They have told us that they have not even signed any MoU with anybody or any partner; they are still try to look into it.
“We are praying they have investors and partnership for us, and we believe with that Sunshine Stars will go higher. The Governor is doing a good job and we like it”, he added.