The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ondo Chapter, has called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on Government sporting facilities in the State for a quick turnaround of results.
This was coming after several stakeholders had urged the State Government to attend to issues causing continuous delay in the upgrading of Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.
A statement made available to journalists on Monday in Akure by Segun Giwa and Joseph Adesuyan, the Ondo State Chairman and Secretary of the SWAN, respectively, said; “there have been recent complaints of lack of funds/attention for other sports like basketball, volleyball, hockey and handball, among others.
“Also, the State owned football team Sunshine Stars now play all their matches in the Nigeria Premier Football League, away from their original home ground in Akure Stadium thus plunging the club into relegation scares.
Read also: Akure Stadium rot grounds sporting activities in Ondo — SWAN
“Sunshine Stars’ journey within the second week of December had been very rough, travelling around the country in a spate of seven days with a rickety bus.
“They played in Ikenne, Ogun State, penultimate Saturday, back to Akure on Sunday and hit the road again on Monday to honour their rescheduled match day 13 against Enyimba International in Aba. They journeyed back to Akure on Thursday and arrived in Minna on Saturday afternoon to face a much improved Niger Tornadoes, the following day.
“In the same vein, the National Sports Festival beckons yet there is no artificial track, good indoor sports hall or healthy swimming pool to train athletes from the State.
“As a critical sports stakeholder in Ondo State, we passionately appeal to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as a matter of urgency, to declare a state of emergency on government sporting facility in the state for a quick turnaround of results.”
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
