Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has sponsored viewing of the 2014 World Cup matches at some designated viewing centres across the state to enable residents of the state watch the march which kicks off on Thursday.
The government has then designated some centres for free viewing after paying the subscription and gate fees of viewers in those designated centres across the state.
Fayemi said he took the decision to encourage many football fans to go out and cheer the teams up at no cost.
The governor said the Nigeria’s Super Eagles deserve a pride of place at the mundial and as many Nigerians as possible should be able to cheer them to victory.
Fayemi added “Football is our uniting sport. As many Nigerians as wish to watch the World Cup matches should be able to do so even if they cannot afford to travel to Brazil. We should be able to support the viewing centre operators to accommodate as many viewers as possible without hindrance.”
Responding to the gesture, the Chairman of the Association of Viewing Centres Operators (AVECO) in Ekiti State, Mr. Ojo Abiodun commended the governor’s effort and asked football fans to troop out en masse to watch the matches at the designated centres, most importantly the Nigerian matches. “Governor Fayemi is a football fan himself and he has scored another first with the gesture because no any governor had done it for us before.”
Another member of the group, Mr. Bayo Awonusi said the governor’s gesture is a recognition of the place of football among the people and as a man of the people, man of peace and friend of the youths, football fans will always prefer him as the governor of the state to any other person who do not mind whether the youths enjoy their passion or not.
Dr. Fayemi also seized the opportunity to send words of encouragement to the members of the Super Eagles’ team, urging them to go out there and do the country proud by performing better than in their past outings.
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