ABEOKUTA– Ex-internationals, under the aegis of All Stars Football Club, Asero branch have accused the Ogun State Government of paying lip service to Sports development in the state.
The ex-footballers expressed their displeasure yesterday while receiving the the executive members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun state chapter who paid them a courtesy visit at Asero.
Speaking with the sports writers, the President, All stars football club, Asero branch, Mr. Salmon Akinbo lamented the sorry state of sports in the state, adding that sports in the state is ‘dead’.
In his words, “Generally, sports is dead in Ogun state. We don’t have the school inter-house sports for secondary schools again. The inter-house sports enable us to discover talents within the confine of the state”
“It is so unfortunate that we have never been blessed with sports loving governor and president in this country. Appointment of sports commissioner should not be job for the boys or political compensation.”
“Nigeria sports is generally bad, unlike before in the 80s and early 90s where we have about five football clubs representing Ogun state in the National Leagues.
“In those days, sports was like empowerment for the youths to take them away from social vices. The government need to engage to tap from their potentials. We want to the government to give tax relief for private companies to invest in sports.
The president further decry the sorry state of the famous Muda Lawal Stadium, Asero which has produced many football icons, while calling for government intervention to restore it back to it’s glory days.
“Muda Lawal stadium is an iconic pitch that has produced many football icons. Government in the state have paid lip service to renovate the stadium, therefore, killing sports in the state”
“The poor state of the stadium is worrisome, even the cleaning of the pitch has been put in our custody. Attention has been given to MKO Abiola stadium at Kuto, but this is where football kicked off in Ogun state”
“History has to be regenerated here. We attempt to sought for private support to uplift the stadium, but we are handicapped because we have limited resources.
“We are also afraid because we have been informed that, the state government want to sell or concession the stadium to private company. The emphasis here is to resuscitate this stadium not to sell” he lamented
Responding, the Ogun SWAN Chairman, Alhaji Hakeem Akintunde commended the veteran footballers for keeping the legacy of late Mudashiru Lawal alive, while assuring the legends of the association support at all times.
