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Former Ondo FA Boss Ologbese decries State Government’s call to sell Sunshine Stars
By Wale Mustapha
Otunba Dele Ologbese, former chairman of Ondo State Football Association has expressed displeasure with the Government of state to put up Sunshine Stars up for sale.
Otunba Ologbese in an interview with sports writers in Akure expressed surprise with Ondo State Government’s desperation to get rid of only source of joy for sports enthusiasts not only in Ondo State but the entire South-West region.
Earlier this week, Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Bamidele Ologun had announced that the State Government was ready to sell the Club to the right investor.
Hon. Ologun said that the State Government initially told stakeholders it was exploring Public Private Partnership (PPP) option in the management of the Club, which he said was never a bad idea until it was heard the news it had finally decided to sell off Sunshine Stars FC which amounts to insincerity and inconsistency on the part of the government.
The former deputy custodian of football in Sunshine State said:“It’s mind blogging the government is demonstrating apparent insincerity and inconsistency on this matter all these while through its hide and seek approach since it hadn’t rescind its unprogressive intention to sell off Ondo State’s commonwealth – Sunshine Stars FC to foreigners who are likely paying pantry sum in taking full possession of the club.
“Why is Ondo State not toeing commendable lines of Abia, Oyo, Benue, Rivers and Anambra States governments who efficiently manage Eyimba, 3SC, Lobi Stars, Rivers Utd and Enugu Rangers respectively without complaints or laudable attempts at disposing their cherished Teams at give away amounts as desperately contemplated by Ondo State Government in selling off its only premiership club to ghost investors.”
He said the outright sale of the club, created by a former Military Administrator of the State, Col. Ahmed Usman in 1996 would surely have adverse effects on the intimidating soccer records of the State as well as the achievements of the Government’s administration.
“With the look of things, no private entrepreneur worth his or her salt is ready to invest in Sunshine Stars due to uncertainties in Nigeria’s football business which investments would be uneasy or almost impossible to recoup.
“With this awkward scenario, it would extremely be a misplaced priority for Ondo State Government to continue to waste its precious time sourcing for investors who would buy the Club as we all knew it would only gift it away to allies at ridiculous amount to be eventually resold for heavy profits,” he said.
Sunshine Stars finished 11th in the 2021/2022 NPFL season with 51 points from 38 games.
The Akure based club have played twice on the continent and reached the semi final in one of the occasions.
