Osun To Receive FIFA Grants For Osun United, Babes

By Solomon Odeniyi & Sodiq Yusuf

The State Government of Osun will receive the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) COVID-19 relief funds due to her football teams, Osun United and Osun Babes.

Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon Yemi Lawal disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday.

Lawal stated that the government was yet to receive an official communication from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the actual amount of the relief funds allotted to the two teams.

He said since the state government is taking over Osun United and Osun Babes, it will be the receiver of the funds.

The commissioner said: “Before now, no revenue was coming to the pocket of the state government while it had been funding the teams.”

“We have taken ownership of the two clubs and we are going to ensure that all the paper-works are properly done to ensure that the revenue that is due to the state be remitted at the appropriate places.

“They are saying that certain amount will be given to Osun Babes and Osun United, I am hearing it from you for the first time, I do not have any official document to show that. But I’m sure that anything that will come to the state teams will be remitted to the coffers of the government.

“The question is not about where the money will come to. If it comes to the government purse, good, if it is paid directly into the purse of the club, there is no problem. It is all within the purview of the government. What matters most is the judicious utilisation of the resources whenever they come.”

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths and Sports, Aremo Adegboyega Adelabu said the government was working assiduously to complete the renovation of the Osogbo Township Stadium.

Adelabu said: “As we speak, the contractor has been mobilised back to site. They have started doing the fencing. The contractor has completed the borehole. The generator has been put in the stadium. We have started the restructuring of the sports sector, in the next two to three weeks; you will begin to see the result.”