By Richard Animam
After about a year of planning, the Ondo State Football Academy, under the auspices of the Ondo State Football Agency (OSFA) has started in three zones.

Speaking while during an inspection tour of the facilities, the vice chairman of OSFA, Elder Dickson Adejube, said the take off of the academy was a fulfilment of the promise made by the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, to engage the youths actively as well as to reposition the state in sports.

According to the former chairman of the Ondo State Football Association stressed that Governor Mimiko is serious in his drive to develop football at the grassroots, saying with the successful flag off of the academy in Ondo, Akure and Owo, more towns areas et to benefit in the next couple of months.

Dr Adejube, who was also a former member of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) board, said OSFA was ready to actualize the governor’s vision for football in the state with various developmental programmes line up for the academy.

“The successful launching of the academy in Akure, Ondo and Owo is a further testimony to the vision of His Excellency, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, to develop the game at the grassroots. And we at OSFA are pursuing that vision with vigour”, he said.

Meanwhile, management, coaches and players of Sunshine Stars of Akure last Sunday attended a thanksgiving at the Revival City Church, Ikeja, Lagos to thank God for the achievement of last season.

The thanksgiving, which was at the instance of the Executive Director of OSFA, Mike Idoko, saw the pastor, Chris Akano, enjoining the players to rededicate themselves to God if they are to win the Premier League this season.

“Any of you who still believe in fetish should better desist now before the arrow of God descend on you. We are here putting Sunshine Stars to the throne of God and you cannot serve God with mammon”, he warned.

The Executive director, Idoko, disclosed that last season they were at the same church to seek God’s favour and He gave them a continental ticket, stressing that they have come thank Him with a request to lift them above the level they attained last season.