Piqued by the level of rot and abandonment of facilities at Akure Sports Stadium, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria(SWAN), Ondo State chapter has called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to visit and inspect the facilities to have first hand information about the state of the stadium.
The sports journalists took the decision to invite the governor to inspect the facilities at their monthly meeting on Thursday.
Having waited for three months after the stadium had been approved for renovation, the sports writers observed that work has not started despite the approval.
They also condemned that the neglect of all sports Associations within the Sports Council which was responsible for their inability to access fund to perform their respective duties as a result of dissolution of their management committees by the leadership of the state’s Sports Ministry.
According to a communique issued by the association and approved by its Chairman, Segun Giwa, the sports writers lamented the negative impact of the abandonment of the facilities on the traders within and around the stadium.
The sports writers also called on Governor Aiyedatiwa to, as a matter of urgency, constitute the Board of the Ondo State Sports Council.
The communique reads in parts: “The following deliberation were attended to by members of the Association and are as follow:
“That members condemned the high level of neglect of sport associations at the sport council, especially for not being able to access their respective budget to attend competitions and the current leadership of the ministry of sports not being able to help them get approvals after pronouncements of dissolution of committees at the sports council.
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“The Congress is not happy with the abandonment of renovation project of the Akure Stadium (Ondo State Sports Complex), three months after the contract had been awarded by the state government, thereby making economic activities to be totally grounded within and around the sport complex.
“Attending members condemned in strong terms, the action of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development through the Sports Council for not sponsoring any member of the association to the just concluded National Youths Games in Asaba,Delta State.
“The Congress, however, called on Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to visit the Sports Complex himself and see the next line of action as future champions are not having access to facilities to train, especially with his promise to build a new stadium, the old one should be maintained.
“That Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa should appoint Board for the Ondo State Sport Council like he did for the football agency to engender all round development, as all sport associations are performing at their lowest ebb and this will allow the ministry of sports to focus more on policy making.
“The association appreciated and commended the current leadership of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA) under the leadership of Hon. Bamidele Ologunloluwa for identifying with SWAN with the procurement of Laptop and a three in – one Printer for the association.
“The congress tasked the board of ODSFA-parents of Sunshine Stars, to do everything possible with the current young squad and achieve greatness with the team this current NPFL season.
“They should also ensure Sunshine Queens return to the Elite women’s league,with early preparation.
“The Congress also appreciates Mr Governor for the appointment of its former Chairmen; Mr Akintunde Akinsemola as a board member of the Ondo State Football Agency and Mr. Lanre Abiodun as Secretary of the Agency.”
