Ondo coalition blasts Sunshine Stars management over ‘shameful blame game’
Ondo State Stakeholders Coalition for Sports Advancement, OSCSA, weekend, berated the management of Sunshine Stars FC for prioritising political vendetta over accountability after the club’s relegation from the Nigerian Premier Football League, NPFL.
In a scathing response to the management of the club for scapegoating the former Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA) Chairman, Akin Akinbobola, the coalition emphasised that Sunshine Stars management misfired by failing to address the systemic issues plaguing the club raised by Akinbobola.
Following the club’s relegation, Akinbobola had reeled out issues which aided the club’s predicament.
While flanked by fan representatives and retired athletes, the OSCSA Chairman, Tubosun Fakunmi, emphasised that Sunshine Stars FC never faced relegation during Akinbobola’s tenure, contrasting it with the current administration’s “historic” demotion.
Fasanmi stressed that instead of heeding Akinbobola’s advice and admonition, the club’s management resorted to name-calling, whipping and dredging up unproven allegations to cover up its failure.
The coalition further lashed out at the Sunshine Stars management for its continuous disregard for the people of Ondo State, particularly the loyal fans, for failing to address them on the situation and as well apologised to them but instead descended into a blame game.
He said, “The continued silence of Sunshine Stars FC’s Interim Management Committee in the wake of the club’s catastrophic and disturbing relegation from Nigeria’s top-flight league–Nigeria Professional Football Leagues (NPFL) – is nothing short of a slap in the face to the passionate supporters of the Ondo State-based side.
“For a team that claims to embody the ‘Sunshine’ spirit, the management’s refusal to address the heartbreak of loyal fans—those who have poured their souls and resources into supporting this club— honestly, reeks of cowardice and institutional arrogance.
“Instead of humility, accountability, or even a semblance of empathy, what do we receive? A pitiful, venom-laden tirade aimed at discrediting a single individual, Akin Akinbobola, in a transparent bid to deflect blame for their own glaring incompetence.
“To blame relegation on past handlers while simultaneously boasting about strong performances in the final five matches is a laughable contradiction. If those matches were so stellar, why did relegation occur? The math does not lie.
“And what of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, whom the committee so fervently praises? While stadium renovations and photo ops at sports festivals are commendable, they are not substitutes for competent football governance.
‘To the long-suffering fans of Ondo State, you deserve better than this circus. You deserve a management that meets your anguish with action, not a cabal of people without proper football administration knowledge who weaponise blame to mask their failures.
“We urge the good people of the Sunshine State to reject this shameful narrative of convenient scapegoating. Demand accountability, not character assassination. Demand a roadmap to redemption, not empty cheers for stadium paint jobs. And to the management: your cowardice is showing.”
Ondo coalition blasts Sunshine Stars management over ‘shameful blame game’
