The Ondo State Government has shown its readiness to sell off state-owned football clubs, the Sunshine Stars and Sunshine Queens, both in Akure.
Sunshine FC is currently playing in the Nigeria Professional Football League, while the Sunshine Queens are playing in the second division of the Nigeria Women Professional Football League.
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The state Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Bamidele Ologunloluwa who disclosed this in an interview on Crest FM, Akure, said the state-owned football teams were open for sale or privatization to the right investors by the end of the ongoing 2022/2023 league season.
The commissioner said that the clubs needed to be privatized for proper administration, adding that it may lead to the government handing over the clubs completely or partnering with investors.
“Not because we didn’t like Sunshine Stars, because it is even good for us as a state, it is good for the boys, for sports development, because the government has no business in business.”
He, however, noted that the club would be sold to any company or individual with a good track record.
He also stated that no one had shown interest currently and that the club was not in the market for now in order not to distract it from the ongoing NPFL.
“We just registered a company now; Ondo Sports Limited, Sunshine Stars FC, Sunshine Queens, Risings Stars put together, at the end of the season, we are going into full-fledged privatization.
“It is better for us as a state, but some people don’t understand this. Once it happens, they will thank Mr. Governor. People need to understand that if the right company takes over Sunshine Stars, there will be more jobs, nothing like losing a job, it has to be in the Memorandum of Understanding, they must have their offices in the three Senatorial Districts, they must have their ministry in the districts to harvest legs,” he submitted.