Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has commended the state-owned football club, Sunshine Stars of Akure for winning the just concluded maiden South West Pre-Season Soccer Tournament in Lagos.
Governor Mimiko, while reacting to the development in Akure lauded the players and officials for the feat. He described the victory as a ‘very sweet victory’ not only for the players, but the soccer-loving people of the state.
He said that the team’s victory at the pre-season tournament is an indication that it would have a successful new season and urged the players and officials to ensure that the pre-season tournament trophy counts by winning the league title.
Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, who described the victory as deserving, said the Dr Olusegun Mimiko led government has been able to raise the bar in the state, in sports generally, and football in particular.
He stressed that over the years, the state has produced indigenes who have become successful coaches, adding that the list of Ondo State indigenes who are certified coaches rose drastically since the incumbent administration assumed power in 2009.
“Before then, the number of certified coaches who are indigenes of Ondo State was very low, but today, reverse is now the case as the state can now boast of over 100 certified coaches who are indigenes of the state, the highest in the history of our darling state.”
He said that Governor Mimiko never hid his intention to take football development to the next level in the state, hence the birth of the only football agency in Nigeria, the Ondo State Football Agency, (ODSFA) shortly after his administration took off in 2009.
“The Governor also always stresses the importance of human capacity development which recognised the need for indigenous coaches to be produced as they acquire knowledge on different fronts.
“The investment is now yielding results as the present composition of Sunshine Stars Technical Crew is 100% indigenous.” Akinmade said.
