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Adeleke’s Deputy Frustrating Sports Development In Osun – Coaches Allege

ByYusuf Oketola

PublishedNovember 28, 2025

Coaches of team sports in Osun State have accused the state’s Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, of sabotaging their efforts.

According to the Coaches, the Deputy’s negligence has caused a major setback to sports development in the state.

They accused him of giving priority to football and tennis at the detriment of other games, including Basketball, Hockey, Baseball, weightlifting, among others.

A cross-section of them who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday said Osun, which has consistently been among the leading incubators of athletic talent in Nigeria, is being dragged backwards under the stewardship of the Deputy Governor, who also serves as the Commissioner for Sports.

According to multiple sources within the Osun State Sports Council, key files and funding requests are left to stagnate on the desk of Prince Adewusi without being forwarded for approval.

Coaches and administrators say they often have to borrow money to enable athletes to travel and compete, yet reimbursement is delayed — sometimes for months.

“It is deeply troubling that, while football seems to receive continued attention, other sports are reportedly being marginalized. Other team sports such as volleyball, hockey, and handball are being neglected, and in some cases, contingent files for national competitions are not even approved,” the sources alleged.

Recently, OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the state Basketball Team received approval to attend their Division One League, but were trapped in Akure due to lack of financial support from the Osun government.

The medium also learnt that the Volleyball Team’s situation is even worse. They attended the first phase of their national league in 2024, but could not attend the second phase due to lack of funding. This year, they have not been able to attend the league at all.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the state Handball Team, which protested in Edo a few months ago over unpaid allowances, has still not been settled. This same team is now on the verge of missing out on Phase 2 of the Ardova Premier Handball league in Lagos due to lack of funds — an avoidable embarrassment.

But reacting to the social media report on the situation of the Basketball Team in Akure, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Sports Council, Mrs. Funmilayo Moradeyo in a Press release on Tuesday, described the report as false, misleading and does not emanate from the Osun United Basketball Team, its players or the coaching crew.

A copy of the release obtained by OSUN DEFENDER reads partly: “Reacting on the publication, the General manager, Mr Demola Daini urges the general public, sports enthusiasts, and the media to disregard the circulating report in its entirety, adding that” the Council remains committed to the welfare of athletes across all sporting categories and continues to work closely with teams and coaches to ensure smooth representation of the state at local and national competitions.

“He encourages members of the public to seek verified information from official channels and not rely on unverified social media content, adding that the government of the day is doing everything possible to ensure that all state teams are well catered for.”

Meanwhile, sports observers in the state have urged the government to take away football from the Osun Sports Council, saying an agency should be created to manage its affairs.

Efforts to get a reaction from the Deputy Governor through his Chief Press Secretary, Goke Awoyemi, proved abortive as he did not respond to the text message sent to his phone and WhatsApp.

Yusuf Oketola

Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.