The Ekiti State Chairman of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA), Mr. Bayo Lanlege has declared that he is not yet satisfied with the performance of the State in Football Competition outings both within and outside the State.
Lanlege made the submissions while answering questions from journalists on Saturday at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti during the final matches for both the Male and Female Categories of the Rt. Honourable Femi Bamisile (BAFEM) Football Competitions to determine the winners.
According to Lanlege when he was asked if he is satisfied with how far Ekiti State has gone and performed in the Football industry, he stated that he is yet to be satisfied especially with how far he has been able to go because his own ideology has always been about Youth Development in Sports.
Lanlege lamented that after different teams that participated in the BAFEM’s Football Competitions had played, and winners emerged in both male and female categories, he queried if that was the end.
Continuing, Lanlege explained that until he sees “two or three players here scouted for or playing for one National Team or the other or even playing in the National League in the Country that I will be satisfied and fulfilled as the Ekiti FA Chairman.
“I can only be happy that in another three or four months after, if I have some of our players being scouted for from the BAFEM 2021 Cup Competitions and hired by clubs like the MFM, the Kwara United, or the Insurance FC or by any other Club out there and earning good money and making a living in football, then, I will be satisfied”, he declared.
He used the opportunity of the press interview to commend and appreciate the efforts of the Sponsor of the Football Competition in person of Rt. Honourable Femi Bamisile.
Lanlege also acknowledged that he brought in scouts to look out for gifted and talented football players while the final matches at the BAFEM’S Cup finals were going in both the Male and Female Categories.
He commended the Governor of Ekiti State for allowing the Ekiti FA to make use of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium to play matches and football competitions being sponsored by some notable individuals like the Rt. Femi Bamisile (BAFEM).
He acknowledged that the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has also done his best to lift the standard of Football in Ekiti State among the comity of states in the country by the donation of the sum of N10 million he gave during the celebration of his 55th birthday to assist in re-grassing of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti.
Meanwhile the Ekiti FA Chairman also appealed to the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Ekiti as well as the Government of Ekiti under the leadership of Dr. Fayemi to ensure that funds meant for football development are released to allow for the development of the game.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
