‎
‎The Chairman of the Ondo State Football Association (FA), Sunday Dele-Ajayi, has decried the lack of corporate organisations in the state, saying it is negatively affecting grassroots football development.
‎
‎Dele-Ajayi made the remark during the association’s Annual General Assembly (AGA), which also marked one year of the current leadership, held at Club Elan in Akure.
‎
‎He noted that despite the successes recorded by the state in recent competitions, the association continues to face serious financial challenges.
‎
‎According to him, the state won a gold medal in football and a silver medal in the female category at the Niger Delta Sports Festival, a feat he described as encouraging for sports development.
‎However, he said funding remains the biggest challenge confronting the football body in the state.
‎
‎“The major problem of the Football Association in our state is finance. Across the three senatorial districts, North, South and Central; we do not have big companies like those in Lagos and other states that can support football development,” he said.
‎
‎The FA chairman explained that football associations in many states rely largely on corporate sponsorship to run their programmes, a support he said is largely absent in Ondo State.
‎
‎He therefore appealed to the state government to restore the monthly subvention previously provided to the association to enable it carry out its programmes and activities effectively.
‎
‎Dele-Ajayi also urged the government to provide an 18-seater bus to ease the movement of teams for competitions and other football engagements, while calling for the speedy completion of the new stadium project in the state.
‎
‎He said “The major problem of the Football Association in our state is finance. If you look at it across the three senatorial districts,North, South and Central,we do not have big companies like those in Lagos and some other states that can support football development. 
‎
‎“In the past, there has always been a monthly subvention for the FA. We would like to request the state government to restore that support."
‎
‎In his goodwill message, the Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Henry Omoyofunmi, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to promote football development in the state.
‎
‎Omoyofunmi, who was represented by Jonathan Obatola, said the gathering of football stakeholders provided an opportunity to review past activities and chart a progressive path for the growth of the game.
‎
‎He noted that football remains one of the most effective tools for youth engagement, social cohesion and talent discovery.
‎
‎Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transport, Gbenga Omole, assured the association of the support of the state government in promoting grassroots football across the state.
‎
‎Similarly, the General Manager of the Ondo State Sports Council, Evelyn Lebi, expressed optimism about the growth of football in the state, noting that strengthening grassroots development would help revive the state’s football team.
‎
‎The FA leadership also presented cash prizes to the two finalists of the 2023 Governor’s Cup which could not be played due to the renovation of the state sports complex and other circumstances.
‎
‎The event was attended by FA chairmen from Lagos State, Ekiti State and Osun State.