Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye has congratulated two Sunshine Stars feeders players, Kehinde Oluwole and Yahaya Idris who were selected by foreign scout in the just concluded scouting programme held at Remo Stadium, Ikene, Ogun State.
He charged the duo to be good ambassadors of the state and remain focused without distractions of any kind, saying they will keep monitoring them as event unfolds after their selections by the scout.
Yusuf-Ogunleye in a chat with newsmen, averred that it’s pertinent to go back to the purpose at which Ondo State Football Agency ODSFA was created .
He said the agency was created primarily to discover budding talents that will bring glory to the state and also to serve as a revenue generation to the government.
He said: “Sports is a big business, not only for entertainment as it was before. We are back to the era where there will be state sports festival, we are going to encourage the ministry of education to go into partnership with them to re-introduced Headmaster and Principal cups.”
“We must look back and take a bold step by reverting to how it was done years back when Ondo State was hub of talents, where about seven of our players were in the national teams.”
“When I assumed office few weeks ago, I promised to create enabling environment for grassroot sports development and today, we have started getting results of our innovation.”
“Some of the great athletes in our country in the past were discovered through grassroot sports competition such as Seun Ogunkoya, Falilat Ogunkoya, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Abe Sunday, Geoffrey Oboabona and host of others” .
“I can assure you that we are back to that era where we will keep our youth busy with competitions at the grassroots and I solicit for support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the Sporting arena for us to succeed.”
“Let me thank the technical crew of the Sunshine Stars feeders team (U -17), particularly the head coach, Shade Akinrolabu, Technical Director, Dimeji Abimbola and others for the selfless services rendered during their two weeks stay at Ijebu Ode, Ogun state.
“We are here and achieving successes since we assumed office because our Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa believes in us and giving us massive support”, he stated.
