The Executive Board of Ekiti State Football Association reaffirmed its commitments to the development of football in the state, at its meeting held Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti.
The well attended executive committee meeting which was chaired by the FA boss, Bayo Olanlege, in a 10-point communique released agreed unanimously on several moves to consolidate the development and growth of football in the state.
Amongst others, the board expressed its gratitude to Governor (Dr). John Kayode Fayemi and the executive committee of the Ekiti State Government for its support and encouragement of sports development in the state.
It also appreciated the efforts of the Ekiti State Sports Council and the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development for their roles in putting to action, the government plans on sports development in the state. As well as the executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation led by its dynamic President, Amaju Pinnick, for its laudable achievements in improving the fortunes of Nigerian football.
The board further saluted the courageous efforts of the Ekiti State task force, as well as the health and social workers, for successfully tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.
The board, while reaffirming its commitment to all its planned football developmental programmes for the 2020/2021, which commences in October 2020, also promises to continue to engage all football stakeholders meaningfully as it strives to use football to build capacity in all the 16 local government areas of the state. And that the standing committees of the EKSFA remain unchanged. Hence, they should continue with their official assignments.
The board also approved the commencement of screening exercises and training of prospective referees in training in conjunction with the Ekiti State Football Referees Council. That the exercise would be for both boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 17 years in all the sixteen local governments of the state and it will kick off at Ekiti Baptist High School, Igede Ekiti, Irepodun Ifelodun Local Football Council on 22nd September 2020.
The board agreed that affiliation fees for clubs and organizations in the 2020/2021 season, should remain the same as it was in the 2019/2020 football season. While it also approved a 3-man committee comprising, Otunba Ariyo A.Y.O, Afolabi Adegboyega and the EKSFA Secretary, B.S. Idowu, with the mandate to liaise with the board and management of the Ekiti State Sports Council for the affordable payment of stadium hire for clubs.
The board in unequivocal terms condemned the nefarious acts of some individuals who against the statutes of the state football association by taking football matters to court. It, therefore, directed that expulsion process be initiated against all of these persons.
Lastly, it agreed that the EKSFA Annual General Assembly would be held one month after that of the Nigeria Football Federation.
The meeting had in attendance, Adebayo Olanlege (Chairman); Fatukasi Joseph Ilesanmi(Member); Aregbesola Shyllon Olumuyiwa(Member); Afolabi Adegboyega (Member); Daramola S.O(Member); Otunba Ariyo A.Y.O(Member); Ibidun Isaac Babatope (Observer); Idowu B.S(Secretary) and
Prince Oladipo Ebenezer, who was unavoidably absent.
