Sunshine get new mgt, Nasarawa sack board

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has constituted a new board for the Ondo State Football Agency—the supervising body of Nigeria Premier Football League side Sunshine Stars—just as the Governor of Nasarawa State Abdullahi Sule has dissolved the management of newly promoted Nasarawa United ahead of the 2024/25 season, The PUNCH reports.

 In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, which was obtained by our correspondent, Aiyedatiwa appointed former Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development in Ondo State, Bamidele Ologunlowuwa, as the new chairman of ODSFA.

 “The Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the appointment of members of the board of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA),” the statement read in part.

 “The Governor charges the new board members to bring their wealth of knowledge and experience to bear on improving football administration in Ondo State.”

 Ologunlowuwa will work with former Sunshine Queens coach Oladimeji Abimbola, a veteran sports journalist and former chairman of the Sports Writers Association in the state Akintunde Akinsemola, as full-time members.

 Tokunbo Akinyelure, who until now worked as the team manager of Sunshine Stars, and Evelyn Lebi are also part of the board as part-time members representing the football associations and the state’s ministry of sports.

 Meanwhile, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule on Tuesday dissolved the Othman Ibrahim-led management of the state-owned men’s football club, Nasarawa United, after gaining promotion back to the NPFL.

 Deputy Governor of the state, Emmanuel Akabe, made the pronouncement on behalf of the governor after meeting with the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Jafaru Ango, and other officials.

The media officer of the team, Eche Amos, confirmed the development to The PUNCH.

 “The specifics of the reasons behind the dissolution and the future direction for the club will be provided in due course,” he said.

 The dissolution left the fate of the technical crew hanging as they prepared for the 2024/25 season.

 Nasarawa United were relegated from the NPFL in the 2023 abridged season and regained promotion back to the topflight this year by winning the Nigeria National League.