Ondo State @ 50: Has sport truly won?

Ondo State @ 50: Has sport truly won?

By Kasali D. Obanoyen

As Ondo State marks 50 years (1976–2026), sport offers a revealing mirror of our governance journey.

The verdict is sobering but hopeful: Ondo State has produced talent in abundance, but has failed to build enduring systems to sustain it.

From school fields to dusty community pitches, Ondo youths have always played. What has been missing is structure, continuity, and seriousness of purpose.

A Story of Talent Without Systems

In the early decades, sports thrived informally—driven by passionate teachers, mission schools, and community pride. Yet success depended more on individuals than institutions. When those individuals left, progress stalled.

The most visible high point came with Sunshine Stars FC, which carried Ondo’s flag to national and continental stages. That era proved a simple truth: Ondo State can compete at the highest level when there is focus. But it also exposed a more profound weakness—over-politicisation, weak governance, and poor commercial planning.

At 50, the Scorecard

Ondo State’s sports journey can be summarised plainly:

Area Performance (1976–2026)

Grassroots talent Strong

School sports structure Weak / Declining

Club governance Inconsistent

Facilities maintenance Uneven

Private & diaspora engagement Underutilized

Sports as economic policy Largely absent

Timeline Snapshot

• 1976–1990s: Vibrant school & community sports, little planning

• 2000s–2010s: Sunshine Stars FC rises; continental exposure achieved

• Mid-2010s: Governance instability, declining competitiveness

• 2020s: Grassroots revival driven by private and alums efforts, not policy

Sunshine Stars FC: An Urgent Lifeline Needed

At this milestone, Sunshine Stars FC requires urgent intervention—not cosmetic support.

This is not just about money. It is about structure, accountability, and professional management.

Ondo State must:

1. Take a hard, honest look at club management

2. Separate football operations from daily politics

3. Install competence, not patronage

4. Adopt clear performance benchmarks

5. Rebuild a credible feeder system from schools and academies

6. Pursue commercialisation and partnerships deliberately

Without this reset, Sunshine Stars risks becoming a symbol of what Ondo once was, rather than what it can still be.

A Keynote Moment at 50

Anniversaries are not for applause alone—they are for course correction.

Sport is not entertainment on the side; it is:

• A youth employment pipeline

• A health and social cohesion tool

• A branding asset for the state

Ondo State does not lack talent. It lacks intentional design.

The Charge for the Next 25 Years

As we look from 50 to 75, the task is straightforward:

• Rebuild school sports as the foundation

• Professionalise club management

• Treat sport as policy and economy, not charity

• Harness communities, traditional institutions, and the diaspora.

Hopefully, there will be a world-class stadium where International sporting events can dock and at least look like a city in Morocco.

Closing

At 50, Ondo State must decide:

Will sport remain a recurring promise—or become a structured pathway for pride, jobs, and excellence?

The ball is at the feet of leadership.