A former president of Sunshine Stars and Sunshine Queens football clubs, Akin Akinbobola, has attributed the recent relegation of Ondo State-owned clubs from Nigeria’s top football divisions to systemic mismanagement, poor funding, and political interference by the state government.
Infuriated by the relegation of the Akure-based sides to lower divisions, Akinbobola, who had also served as Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), emphasized that mediocrity and misplaced priorities also led to the demotion.
With both clubs crashing out of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and Nigeria Women Premier League (NWFL), the relegation ended the 22 unbroken seasons of Sunshine Stars FC.
While stating this during a press briefing to review the season of Sunshine Stars and the decline of sporting activities in the state, Akinbobola stated that Sunshine Stars FC is currently not being managed professionally, and the state government must begin to prioritize the sports sector and the welfare of athletes.
“To the best of my knowledge, that place is not well-managed. Mediocrity has crept into the very breadth of that place. How can you put a carpenter to go and become head of the hospital management board? How can you put a medical doctor to go and be head of the Judiciary Commission? It cannot work.
“Let me also reiterate, the governor should not be using football or sports appointments as payback for the boys and sycophants. Sycophancy has paved the way for the promotion of mediocrity in the administration of sports.”;;
With former Chairman of Sunshine Stars FC Supporters Club, Emmanuel Oduyi, appealing to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to urgently complete the stadium project, Daniel Udoh, a former player of Sunshine Stars FC, said all must be done to bring Sunshine Stars back, while a sound administrator was needed to champion the cause.
