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Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye has commended Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure over their victory against Plateau United in the 2024 President Federation Cup played in Abuja.
Sunshine Stars defeated Plateau United 4-3 through penalty shootout in the round of 32 after they played 1-1 in the regulation time.
Yusuf -Ogunleye who was in Enugu for the first National council for Sports, said he was in contact with the team from the start of the round of 32 encounter against the Premier League table leader till they were trailing with a goal in the 85 minutes.
He said: “I called the Team Manager to express my displeasure with the team at 0-1, but he didn’t pick my calls, may be because of the tension of the game, immediately i sent him a message that the worst that could happen should be a draw.”
“Few minutes later, the equaliser came and we won through penalty shootout.
” It was a tension soaked encounter playing against Plateau United who are the leader of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).”
“I told the Team manager, that our players should not feel jittery because of our current position in the league, they should keep to their promises as part of our agreement.
“I told them, that their April salary is ready and that they should give us the match to prepare for Sunday encounter against Bendel insurance”
“I want to thank our Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa for believing in the team and his massive support for the team despite our current position in the league.”
“Defeating the highly rated Plateau United is a moral booster for us.
“I plead with the people of Ondo state to continue to keep faith with the team as we continue the struggle to lift our team out of the red zone. What God can not do does not exist”,he said.