Ondo FA meets commissioner, promises cooperation

By Femi Atolagbe
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Board members of the Ondo State Football Association led by the chairman Otunba Dele Ajayi has paid a courtesy visit to the new Commissioner for Youth and Sports Mr Dotun Owanikin in his office in Akure.

The visit, which was the first in the series was facilitated by the commissioner, who was said to have called to meet with relevant stakeholders of sports in Ondo State.

While reeling out plans and request for the honourable commissioner Otunba Dele Ajayi urged the ministry to try and separate their budget from the Ondo State Football Agency while also imploring the commissioner to help plead with the Football Agency to pay up affiliation fees of Sunshine Stars before the start of the new season.

The FA chairman also pointed out that the commissioner should help to correct the situation where the representative of the FA on the ODSFA board should be a full time and not a part time membership as it is currently practiced

Otunba Ajayi also wanted the commissioner to use his office to get a vehicle for the FA to enable it carry out its functions effectively.

The board also wants the commissioner to urge the ODSFA management in ensuring Sunshine Stars have a formidable team ahead of next season

Responding the commissioner Mr Dotun Owanikin, who said he also played the round leather game at some stage said he hope to cooperate with the state FA while also looking forward to making his tenure a memorable one.

Mr Owanikin who is a member of the National Institute of Sports promised to speak with the authorities of ODSFA about the requests of the FA even as he wants Sunshine Stars to commence early preparations ahead of next season most especially by doing their transfer business as soon as possible.

The Commissioner insisted that he wanted the good old days of Sunshine Stars be back,, hence the need for the FA and the Football Agency to work together for a successful campaign.

He promised to hold another meeting involving all stakeholders in a bid to move football and indeed sports development forward in the state.