By: Ade Adeleke
The Ondo State government has vowed that it is working round the clock to ensure that the state owned Football team, Sunshine Stars football club do well and can win the 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL Super Six playoffs.
The Commissioner for Youths and Sport in Ondo state, Mr. Bamidele Ologun, stated this in Akure on thursday while addressing sports writers in his office.
The playoffs will start this weekend in Lagos and Sunshine stars will first face the defending Champions, Rivers United.
Ologun assured sports lovers in the state of the determination of the state government to motivate the Sunshine Stars towards winning the competition of the 2022/23 NPFL season.
He maintained that the sole aim of the team is winning the competition, saying the players and their officials will be motivated to get the best out of them during the competition that will decide the 2022/23 NPFL winner.
He disclosed that the state government has increased the bonus of the players as a means of motivation for the team and said: “we seek the support of all football stakeholders, including Sports journalists for us to emerge victorious at the competition”.
The Sports Commissioner while commending the Aiyedatiwa led Interim Management committee, for laying a solid foundation for the management team to build upon, said the management will ensure that Sunshine Stars have a good outing at the Super six competition with the support of every concerned stakeholders.
According to him, “I have been often time be misunderstood over the sale of Sunshine Stars, what the government said was to partner with the interested investors and not the outright sale of the club.
“What we need is an investor that would partner with us to reduce the financial burden from the government .
“The name and the home ground of the team must remain, we are of the view that government should not be involved in sports business 100 percent.”
“For the umpteenth time , I’m calling on the private individuals and corporate bodies to join hands with the government to develop sports in all facet,” Ologun said.
