Akanni Seyi
To those familiar with Osogbo Township Stadium located along Ikirun road within the metropolis, it's quite obvious that its infrastructure and facilities are still yet to be completed and are in a state of despair.
According to the stadium's master plan, the fifteen thousand capacity complex supposed to have gallery with seats, a luscious football pitch, athletic track, floodlights, perimeter fence, dressing rooms with convenience spots, mini studio, basketball courts, volleyball courts, hall for indoor activities, administrative buildings, handball courts, lawn tennis courts, training pitches, electronic scoreboard and vast expanse of spaces for automobile parks.
Major actors and fans have expressed their dissatisfaction about the state of the arena which shows no clear sign of maintenance.
Recall that the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola started the project after cancelling a mouth-watering deal initiated and adopted by the administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
The whopping sum of 18.38 billion naira loan was secured by the Okuku born prince, the facility which was aimed at erecting sports complex in Osogbo, Ede, Ilesa, Ife and Ikirun. Aregbesola cancelled the contracts, leaving only the Osogbo Stadium.
The stadium project was technically abandoned as the harsh economy took toll on the state. The contractor handling the project has since returned to his native country in far away Northern Africa. The moribund state of the facility has accounted for mass exodus of Osun athletes to sister states because of lack of conducive training facilities.
According to the state governor Mr Gboyega Oyetola while delivering his keynote address during the recently concluded Presidential Cup, packaged by African Youth Sports Federation (AYSOF) and hosted by the ministry of sports and youth engagements, Mr governor noted that, "for us in Osun, sport is not only a medal-winning and recreational activity, it is principally an instrument for impacting leadership skills in the youths to enable them to perform their roles as leaders of tomorrow.
"As we harvest the outcomes of our just concluded Economic and Investment Summit, we shall give priority attention to sport as always to build an army of award-winning and responsible youths who will flag the State’s and Nigeria’s flag internationally.
"In furtherance of our commitment to sport, we will soon complete the construction of the Sports stadium to provide a platform for our youths to give expression to their talents and enhance their award-winning prowess." lleri Oluwa as he's fondly called concluded.
Seventeen days after the above statements were made, sources revealed that Mr governor has directed the energetic honorable commissioner for sports and youth engagements, Hon. Yemi Lawal to commence listening to bids in order to fast track the process of the football pitch and other facilities wearing a new look.
This is no doubt a welcome development as the complex is becoming aliens to hosting tournaments organized by the apex football body in the land.
Osun athletes are skilled and extremely super talented. For instance, Taekwondo alone as a sport in the state has accounted for over 64 medals since 2013 till date. If construction of sporting facilities are on the front burner, coupled with effective grassroots programs, then the state would reap from massive social and economic dividends soonest.
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