.Seeks SWAN, Stakeholders’ Support
By Sports Editor
Year 2025 has been described as one which football lovers and stakeholders in Ekiti State will witness activities and programs towards the uplift of the game.
The Chairman, Ekiti State Football Association, Chief Olu Oloworemo made the disclosure during a media interactive session with members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN)
While addressing the Sports journalists at the FA office in Ado Ekiti, the chairman said competitions, seminars, courses and awards are some of the programs lined up for the year by the State football governing body.
Chief Oloworemo said activities will begin as from February with the President’s Federations Cup while the State Football League playoffs will follow in the month of March.
According to him, the main State League tournament will run for five months spanning through April and August adding that other programs will also take place especially under-age tournaments and the Unity CUP in various towns across the State.
The FA boss assured that seminar and training in collaboration with the Nigeria institute of Sports( NIS) aimed at enhancing the capacity of Football coaches in the State will be organized by the FA between the month of April and June .
Some other programs including the Chairman Local Football Councils’s Tour and Football Awards will also be held in a bid to spice up the year for the teeming football enthusiasts.
Chief Oloworemo while acknowledging the strides of Ekiti State Governor, Mr.Biodun Oyebanji towards repositioning the game of football, commended him for priority accorded the State Female Football team, Ekiti Queens which is playing in the Nigeria Women Premier Football League.
The FA also lauded the State government for providing an enabling environment to accommodate youth Football championships especially for secondary school pupils.
On FA’s quest to positively engage the teeming youth of Ekiti State through football, Chief Oloworemo expressed readiness to collaborate with personalities, groups and corporate bodies that are interested in developing the game through tournaments and programs.
He also informed that efforts have reached appreciable level with the Nigeria Institute of Sports (NIS) Lagos to organize capacity building courses and programs for Football Coaches in Ekiti State .
The FA boss said the gesture is aimed at saving the coaches from the stress and difficulties of traveling to Lagos to attend NIS courses when same could be achieved with less burden.
He also solicited the support and cooperation of philanthropists, political class and corporate bodies in the area of sponsorship of Fa organized programs and tournaments adding that affiliated bodies are equally allowed to initiate people oriented programs in line with the vision and policy of the FA and the State government.
Chief Oloworemo who thanked members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Ekiti State for their support since the commencement of his administration also urged them to be more committed to reporting of grassroots football and FA activities via their various media platforms.
He assured that the journalists will be considered among the recipients of awards at the proposed 2025 Ekiti State Football Awards scheduled to hold in December.
The FA chairman who was asked series of questions by member of SWAN led by the chairman, Qozeem Oladapo took time to respond to the questions with a promise to work more closely with Ekiti State SWAN in order to bridge the gap between both groups
