Ondo State Football Association (FA), on Sunday, said the absence of major companies in the state is hindering the growth and development of football.
Sunday Dele-Ajayi, the Chairman, Ondo FA, who said this during the Annual General Assembly, which also marks one year in office of the association, held at Club Elan, Akure, said that despite notable achievements recorded by the state in recent competitions, the football association was still grappling with financial constraints.
“A lot of activities have taken place, and the state government has recorded successes in sports. We won the gold medal in football and also secured a silver medal in the female category at the Niger Delta Sports Festival,” he said.
He noted that funding remained the major challenge confronting the association; therefore, he appealed to the state government to reintroduce a monthly subvention to assist the association in carrying out its activities.
Dele-Ajayi explained that many states rely heavily on corporate sponsorship to run football programmes, a support he said Ondo State currently lacks.
“The major problem of the Football Association in our state is finance. If you look at it across the three senatorial districts, North, South and Central, we do not have big companies like those in Lagos and some other states that can support football development.
“In the past, there has always been a monthly subvention for the FA. We would like to request the state government to restore that support,” Dele-Ajayi said.
He also appealed to the government to provide an 18-seater bus to ease the movement of teams for competitions and other football engagements, while also urging the government to expedite work on the new stadium in the state to enhance football development.
Henry Omoyofunmi, the Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, in his goodwill message, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to advance football development in the state.
Omoyofunmi, who was represented by Jonathan Obatola, said the gathering of football stakeholders provided an important opportunity to review past activities and chart a progressive path for the growth of the game in the state.
According to him, football remains one of the most effective tools for youth engagement, social cohesion and talent discovery.
He said the state government recognised the important role of the Football Association in grassroots development, talent identification and promotion of sportsmanship.
A football stakeholder, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transport, Gbenga Omole, also assured the FA of the support of the current state government and would also help engender
Omole, however, urged the leadership of the FA to continue supporting grassroots development across the nooks and crannies of Ondo State.
