Ex-Footballers Charge SWAN To Engage Government On Sports Devt In Ogun

All Stars Football Club President, Lawal Adeoye Waheed 

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji 

ABEOKUTA - Ex-footballers of the Nigeria Football League under the aegis of All Stars Football Club of Abeokuta, in Ogun state have charged Sports Writers in the state to save the drowning state of sports development in the state by engaging the state government on the way forward.

The President, All stars football club, Alhaji Waheed Adeoye lawal gave the charge on Saturday when he received executive members, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun state chapter in the secretariat 

Alh. Lawal who spoke on behalf of all ex-footballers present at the meeting said the state has lost its glory among comity of states in terms of sports development. 

He said sports writers as  mouthpiece of the people,  should call the attention of the state government to lack of sports growth in the state. 

"Gone are the days we see sports as a means of employment and empowerment for the youths. We are not happy with situation of sports in the state especially football. 

"There was a time when we have about two or three football clubs representing Ogun state in the Nigeria football league. Gone are the days we have players from Ogun state playing in the national team.

"We need to go back to the drawing board and see how we can revive sports in this state. It is so unfortunate that, sports in Ogun state in the last 10years has been at snail speed. Therefore, as sports writers you need to engage the state government on how to drive the sports industry. 

"SWAN is a  promoter of sports and that is why you must project the state because you are projectors of sports industry in Nigeria. I'm looking forward to a day when stakeholders will come together and issue a communiqué to drive sports forward. 

"As sports writers, you have many responsibilities to ensure that you bring all concerned stakeholders together and let us see how we can revive sports in this state because we can't leave it for government alone.

"We thank the Ogun State House of Assembly for passing the Sports Commission and Sports Trust Bill into law but we want to urge Governor Dapo Abiodun to assent to the bill and appoint thorough and credible professionals to manage the Sports Commission."