Yusuf Oketola
FORMER Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Special Needs in the State of Osun, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, has asserted that sports activities under the current administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has been relegated to the background.
According to Odunlade, sports sector under the current administration is not getting the premium attention, recalling that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s scorecard in sport Sector is quite memorable, huge and still the best so far in any part of the country.
The former commissioner’s comments were borne out of the hardship facing players of Osun United and challenges confronting the sports sector generally.
In an exclusive interview with OSUN DEFENDER, yesterday, Odunlade noted that in a bid to have a state team, Aregbesola revamped Osun United from Prime FC formerly under Osogbo Local Government and also renamed the female team as Osun babes with proper funding.
He stated that he could not remember anytime Osun United players got stranded when going outside the state for matches without immediate action, claiming that many talents were discovered and nurtured to stardom during Aregbesola’s reign.
Odunlade, however, added that some of the most decorated athletes in Osun are now making ways to other states in pursue of their career as government is not giving premium to their welfarism.
Osun United players were recently stranded on the road for three days between Abuja and Osogbo, while their female counterparts, Osun Babes, had similar experience last week in Asaba, Delta State while coming from a football match due to the bad condition of their vehicle.
