By Gbenga Adeleye
Ekiti State Football Association chairman, Bayo Olanlege has assured his board will continue to collaborate at all times with the Ekiti State Sports Council, ESSC.
Olanlege said this when he led his board members on a courtesy call to the newly appointed acting General Manager of the Sports Council, Mr. Kunle Adeyemi in his office on Wednesday.
The FA boss stated that their visit was to familiarize and intimate with the General Manager on their work plan for the 2021/22 football season in the State.
“It’s a delight for the football (association) that you (Adeyemi) has been appointed at this time of sports development in the State.
“Our visit today (Wednesday) is also to assure you of our unflinching support and collaboration at all times and moving forward and providing you with first hand information of the activities of the FA.
“We’ve had a lot of challenges to deal with since we came on board 2-years ago. The lack of funding from the State Government and how we have have navigated such,” the soft spoken astute football maintained.
The Acting General Manager, Mr Kunle Adeyemi warmly received and appreciated the timely visit of the FA as a fortuitous gift for him as he marks a month in office stressing a strong synergy has been born between his Council and the Football Association to the development of football in the State.
“I cherished this recognition accorded me by the FA and my ultimate desire is to restore a harmonious and cordial dealing between the Sports Council and FA.
“Let me say this, there is no issue where some said someone who is not from Ekiti cannot lead football in the State. If I (Adeyemi) support such school of thought, it means I have thrown away all my years in studies.
“Sports is a universal and unifying factor and the best hands must be supported to do the job, if it’s an Igbo man that is developing the sector, I will support him totally.
Adeyemi further commended the present leadership of the FA, saying the chairman, Bayo Olanlege has introduced dynamism in sports administration using football which has made the sports circle in Ekiti proud.
“We should forget the past and synergize together on various initiatives that can move sports forward. This will also help us to tackle the challenges of sports development together especially football with reinforced energy, attracting support and funding from the government and other corporate bodies,” Adeyemi noted.
