Ondo State Football Association has urged members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ondo State Chapter, to support its various programmes to help develop football in the state.

Chairman of the Association, Otunba Dele Ajayi, made the appeal during a media parley organised by Ondo SWAN in Akure, saying the state is making landmark successes in the country.

Ajayi, who was the special guest at the programme, said sports writers are important to every programme and vision of the state FA, adding, “We can move the state forward, we can discover talents together; during the next three years, I want to have at least three players in national team.

“From one of our programmes, we have a young player in Cyprus already. I don’t sell players, I don’t own players, we only create platforms for them to excel and showcase their talents.

“I need your support to succeed in the remaining three years and three months of my mandate… we can discover talents together.
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We are not Mr. know all, you can call our attention to issues that promote development anytime.”

The FA Chairman, who revealed that the state FA could not go into school sports competitions because it is under the Ministry of Education, said the association has been training coaches from secondary schools to help develop potential talents there.

He also revealed that sponsors would soon be unveiled for the planned state league scheduled to start next year in the 18 local councils.

Ajayi assured that he would support any programme by the sports writers in the state, describing them as partners in progress in football.

Earlier, Ondo SWAN Chairman, Wahab Bankole, thanked Ajayi for honouring the members’ call, as well as sharing his vast football experience with the association.