By Taofeek LAWAL
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has showered praises on players and officials of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan for winning the second edition of the Prince Dapo Abiodun Preseason tournament held in Ijebu-Ode. The Oluyole Warriors as 3SC is fondly called won the maiden edition of the competition last year.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports Oyo State, Asiwaju Seun Fakorede, who represented the governor lauded the feat of the team saying they have shown what they are capable of doing when it mattered most.
The Commissioner said Governor Makinde had planned to personally receive the team but he (Makinde) had to attend to other pressing matters.
He said, “His Excellency actually was going to receive us but of course you know that the demands of the office and the assignment is quite enormous, a lot of things came up again that he has to attend to and that was why he delegated me to receive you all on his behalf.
“I want you to know that he is very very proud of you all, especially for making the state proud by winning the Cup again in the just concluded tournament.
“We have a governor who does not just say he is going to support us just in words but who backs it with the corresponding action.
“Really, the crop of players that we have and even the entire management of 3SC is blessed to be with us at such a time like this, when we have a responsible and responsive governor, who has decided to make sports one of his priorities.
“Now I want us to go back and re-enforce our strength and whatever we need to do because we have not even started, the most important thing is, by the grace of God, I want us to be able to stand like this before the governor and say sir, just as we promised you, we have come to deliver the promotion ticket”, said the Commissioner.
Fakorede expressed confidence in the ability of the team to deliver the ticket, going by the quality of players in the team and their commitment and response to training.
He described the outing of the Oluyole Warriors at the preseason tourney as a testament to the readiness of the team for the challenge in the league.
The Commissioner used the occasion to speak on what the remodelled Lekan Salami Stadium, the home ground of 3SC would like when the ongoing work is concluded.
He said the stadium will be upgraded to a standard arena in every ramification, with the sitting capacity increased from eight to at least ten thousand, a beautiful mainbowl, suitable playing surface, four standard dressing rooms, with four standard training pitches.
