The Ondo State Football Agency on Thursday held a stakeholders’ meeting with the objective of finding ways to save Akure-based Sunshine Stars FC from the looming relegation from the Nigeria Professional Football League.
The meeting, held in Akure, had in attendance members of the Football Association, referees council, ministry of youths and sports officials, sports writers, the club’s technical crew and other relevant stakeholders.
Addressing the participants, Tunde Ogunja, the Acting Chairman, ODSFA, said all relevant stakeholders should all work together to help the team out of relegation.
Ogunja, who said that the agency inherited a bad structure, appealed to the state government to release funds for the team to meet its necessary demands.
He said: “We inherited a very bad team and we are trying to improve on it. We will try to win all our home matches and motivate our boys.
“Government should release funds to motivate the players; once they are motivated, they can do it, I promise the state that we will not be relegated.”
The Chairman of Ondo State FA, Chief Dele Ajayi, said with collective efforts, the team would escape relegation.
Ajayi, represented by a member of the FA, Henry Akingboju, said all suggestions and ideas that would make the team to escape relegation were welcomed.
Abe Sunday, the Skipper of Sunshine Stars, advised the agency to carry along those who were knowledgeable in football in the state.
Sunday promised football lovers that the players were ready to ensure that the team did not go on relegation.
Michael Fabonmi, the Chairman of the Coaches Association in the state, promised to collaborate with the team’s technical crew to achieve set goals.
The Director of Sports, Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, Wande Fabuluje, advised the management to do the needful and ensure the team stayed in the premier league.
Sunshine Stars are 17th on the log with 30 points from 26 matches.
Sunshine Stars, founded in 1995, has its home stadium as Akure Township Stadium.
The club travelled to Hungary, Europe for their pre-season tour in preparation for 2015 NPFL.
It has played once in the CAF Champions League in 2012, ending its run in the semi-finals and also featured once in the CAF Confederations Cup in 2011, where it also stopped at the semi-finals.
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