THE Ondo State Government has again stated his commitment to make the state the cynosure of all eyes in the area of grassroots football development.
The Chairman, Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), Prince John Ola Mafo was speaking in Akure during a visit by the leadership of Akure United Football Academy led by Barr. Olusola Oke in company of Mr Antonio Menendez Pato, a coach and scout from Spain.
Mafo, who expressed happiness with the partnership between Akure United Football Academy and the State Football Agency said the move will take football development in the state and beyond to an enviable height.
The ODSFA boss who highlighted the benefits of the partnership called on more relevant stakeholders and corporate bodies as well as private individuals to join hands with the agency to create future for the youths.
The former Chairman of the NFF Appeals Committee commended Akure United for showing good example in the area of talent discovery and development in the state.
" We appreciate the efforts of Akure United for sharing the vision of grassroots football development with us (ODSFA). We hope others will show similar interest so that our youths will be empowered and future created for them".
The President of Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure who thanked the Spanish coach, Antonio Menendez Pato, for believing in football development programme of the state reaffirmed his commitment to realise the dreams and vision of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
"We are committed to discovering talented footballers in Ondo State. The state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko knows the importance of using football to create future for the youths and that is why the agency is working hard to achieve the set targets".
"Government is using football to get our youths off the street, because it is another way of engaging them positively and creating wealth for them".
"The coming to Ondo State again by the Spanish Coach, Mr Antonio Pato to help in the development of discovered talented footballers in the state for international exposure is one of the benefits of the agreement signed with Akure United Academy early this year as we are reaping the first fruit of the partnership now, " he said.
Earlier, the Proprietor of Akure United Barr. Olusola Oke appreciated the chairman and the staff of the agency for supporting his dream and vision and not seeing him as a rival, but a partner in progress.
The Legal Practioner said the Spanish coach, Antonio Menendez Pato decided to visit the country again to conclude the developmental process started last year.
"Coach Antonio Pato was in Akure last year to begin the process of discovering and exposing talented footballers. He went back to Spain with tapes of some players in our team, and now he is back to see progress made in the area of their development and see how he can also discover more as we seek cooperation from the football agency".
Coach Antonio Pato, who spoke through an interpreter, said he was happy to be in the country again and commended the idea behind the setting up of the football agency which he described as a right step in the right direction.
According to him, the activities of the agency will go a long way in giving youths of the state an edge over others in the area of development and exposure.
The Ondo State Government through the State Football Agency had in 2014 signed a Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU) with another Spanish Outfit, CD Castellon in the area of grassroots football development.
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