By Femi Atolagbe
Seven under -19 players have earned promotion to Sunshine Stars FC after impressing during a rigorous talent-monitoring process by the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA).
The youngsters; Oreyomi Bamigbe; David Joseph: Uche Anaro; Alade Damilola; Yakubu Shuibu; Ugochukwu Lawrence and Khalil Nurudeen have now stepped up to the Akure-based club’s first-team set-up.
ODSFA chairman, Mr Devine Ogbonaya, announced the promotion at the Games Village along Oda Road, Akure, saying the players had earned their chance through consistent performances and impressive displays.
Ogbonaya urged the young footballers to seize the opportunity, stressing that discipline, hard work and commitment would be crucial to their progress.
He also charged them to respect their coaches’ instructions and maintain a strong team spirit as they begin the next phase of their careers.
The ODSFA chairman said the move reflected the agency’s determination to create a clear pathway for talented young footballers in Ondo State to break into the professional game.
Sunshine Stars head coach, Duke Udi, backed the decision, revealing that the seven players were selected strictly on merit after careful assessment.
The youngsters have wasted no time making the step up, with Udi confirming that they have already trained with the first team and featured in Sunshine Stars’ recent friendly against Shooting Stars FC in Ibadan.
Sunshine Stars emerged 2–1 winners, giving the newly promoted players an early taste of senior-level football.
The promotion marks another significant step in Sunshine Stars’ drive to build a stronger team around home-grown talent while giving the next generation of Ondo footballers a platform to make their mark.