The two contestants for the Osun Football Association (FA) Chairmanship, Mr Ademola Bamidele and Mr Rasaq Mustapha, on Saturday, promised to revitalise and develop age grades and grassroots football, if elected.
The contestants, who featured on a debate organised by the Osun Chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Osogbo, said their affiliation to the FA, and how they had worked for football development would advance the course of football more.
Mr Ademola Bamidele, (the acting chairman of the Osun FA) said that he would seek sponsorship across the state; from banks and private sector organisations to enhance football in the state and also ask local government chairmen to raise football teams at the grassroots.
Bamidele said he would also use goodwill, through ex-internationals and footballers from the state to facilitate foreign scouts who would come and watch the state league, and help to export discovered talents to foreign teams around the world.
In his own presentation , Mr Rasaq Mustapha, the Chairman of Ajiroba Ooni FC, Osun, said he would get sponsorship for the state football development with his link with major global companies all over the world.
Mustapha added that priority would be given to grassroots football by creating opportunities for kids to learn, compete and develop their talents and also create Osun Youth League for U-15 boys and girls.
The two contestants, however, agreed to work together, irrespective who is elected, as they have both been friends and worked together on the board of the state football association.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osun FA chairman’s seat became vacant after the demise of late Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi in February.
An election to select a new head for the FA would hold on Monday where a new chairman, expected to pilot the affairs of the state football for the next four years will be elected.
