By: Oluwatosin Adesola
The Ondo State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Dele Ologun, has reacted to a call for his removal from office by some fans of the state-owned Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure due to poor results and sales news.
Some fans and key stakeholders had told SUNSHINETRUTH that the commissioner should be removed over the team’s poor outings.
Trouble started for the Ondo state-owned Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure after they failed to win their last three games of the match day 13 of the Group B encounter of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) against Rangers FC.
Sunshine Stars have been winless in last three games of the NPFL.
Sunshine Stars had drawn the Wikki Tourist FC away in Bauchi on match day 10, played 1-1 with Doma United in Akure on match day 11 and the latest with visiting Rangers also drawing 1-1 on match day 13 encounter.
Some fans and key stakeholders who spoke with newsmen at Akure Stadium after the Sunshine Stars-Rangers game, attributed the poor results of the team to irresponsible timing of an outburst by Ologun on the planned sales of the team.
However reacting, the Commissioner, Dele Ologun said the call is mischievous, exonerated himself from the team’s poor results.
Ologun said, “the game we had few days ago, even the blind could see that we were robbed. It is broad day light robbery, even the match before this one and this would be the third time. I am not a striker, people can be mischievous and it doesn’t matter it is part of sports anyway.
“So if they are calling for my removal, there is no problem about that, it is normal. Football is a unifier. So it is normal when some people felt they should have won when they lost and it is normal when they react. But hope is not lost yet and I understand our people.”
SUNSHINE STARS: MATTERS ARISING
Sunshine Stars football club of Akure has continued to perform beyond expectations in the on going Nigeria Premier football league.
For avoidance of doubt, it must be noted that sunshine Stars have lost just two (2) matches in the current campaign, having played a total of 12 matches with an outstanding match against Rivers United.
it is clear that the Akure based team is on the right track towards achieving the set targets at the beginning of the season as the team currently occupies the 5th position on the log with 18 points.
The Akure based team which is tutored by Edith Agoye has recorded impressive results so far in the current football season occasioned by effective management anchored by the Ondo State Commissioner for youth and sports development, Mr Bamidele Ologunloluwa.
Mr Ologunloluwa had a clear vision of what he wanted sunshine Stars to achieve this football season leading to the appointment of Edith Agoye as the Head Coach and so far, the Akoko born tactician has not disappointed.
It is therefore unacceptable and high level of irresponsiblity and shenanigans
for anyone who claim to be fan(s) of the darling team of Ondo State to see negativity in the efforts of the team and its handlers.
The recent results of the team which include drawn games against Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in Bauchi, Doma Fc of Gombe and Rangers Intl. of Enugu in Akure should not been seen or viewed as failures considering lots some circumstances surrounding those results.
If not for the unprofessional conduct of the centre referee who disallowed the winning goal against Rangers in Akure on match day 13, the story would have been different as regards the position of the Akure based team on the league table.
Sunshine Stars have been able to get this far because of the motivation by the state government under the leadership of the sports commissioner who is committed to better and improved welfare of the players and coaches.
As a matter of fact, the soccer loving people of the state and government are appreciative of the efforts of the sports commissioner and the entire team so far in the current campaign as no one had thought that the team will be aiming for the super six finish at the end of the season.
It is important for all stakeholders including fans to stay away from actions capable of distracting the team while apportioning blames where none exists.
This is the best time to support the team to finish strong towards realising the set objectives at the beginning of the season.
For a team that has lost just two (2) matches in 12 matches played so far, it can only get better with the support of all and sundry as government is making frantic efforts to bring more stability to the club.
