The Owena Whales had to hold on to beat Rivers United by a lone goal on the last day of the league to ensure they retain their status in the top flight.

Executive Chairman of Ondo State Football Association, Otunba Sunday Dele Ajayi told reporters on Sunday in Benin, the venue for this year’s Aiteo Cup final that it was as a result of concerted efforts by football stakeholders in the state with a positive approach from the government that saw Sunshine beat the drop.

Otunba Ajayi who was making a return to the helm of football affairs in the state noted that all hands must be on deck to see the club remain permanently in the league.

He also advised the Ondo State government to reconsider her stand on selling the club to a private body.

“I told the government and people of Ondo State that Sunshine will not go on relegation under my watch as FA Chairman and by God’s grace, we achieve that.

“Since the election has been conducted and I’m the chairman of the state FA, I mobilized all stakeholders to put in our best resources to see the club stay in the Premier League.

“We’ve done our part and it’s now left for the (Ondo State) government what they want to do with the team (to stay in the NPFL).

“We will need to sit down with the stakeholders and government to determine what they want to do on time so that they will start preparation and recruitment for the new season in earnest, and if Government wants to sell they can go ahead, but for now we’ve tried our best to see the team stay in the NPFL.

“I told the government you cannot sell a dilapidated house, it has to be renovated first. We have renovated the house (Sunshine Stars) so they can decide on selling it or not,” he said.

The business tycoon cum veteran sports administrator was asked what he expects from the club next season and he said “We are in the Premier League with the concerted efforts from everyone identified with the team and I’m confident next season we are going to fight for a continental ticket.”

Ekene Awazie’s low drive inside the opening eight minutes tipped the balance of the keenly contested round 22 tie in favour of the Anambra Wariors.

The Owena Whales took the game to the hosts minutes after going down but failed to punish their opponents from chances created; first on an indirect free kick awarded them inside the box after the goalkeeper collected a desperate back pass that denied Fuad Ekelojuoti a chance at goal.

The visitors went close to drawing level again when Sharp Uzoigwe spilled Kehinde Adedimpe’s volley, but the goalkeeper reacted fast to stop Fuad Ekelojuoti from pouncing home from the rebound 10 minutes from the break.

In the 41′ Adedimpe evaded his marker with a nutmeg in the area; shot on target, but Fredrick Obomate dragged wide from his rebound. Then three minutes later Emmanuel James drew a save from the goalkeeper with a free kick.

The task could have been made more daunting at the interval, but David Ariyo spared the coach Gbenga Ogunbote tutored side’s blushes with a top of the drawer save from a goal mouth lose ball at the stroke of half time.

Ariyo was on hand in the 69′ to deny the hosts with another brave stop from goal mouth, while at the other end a combination of good goalkeeping and desperate defending thwarted a certain leveler from Sadeeq Yusuf’s low drive. 

Four minutes from time, Ariyo stood firm again to keep his side in the contest with a big save from inside the area, which set the stage for a last minute attempt at equaliser in the shape of Sunday Emmanuel’s curling effort that drifted just wide.

OGUNBOTE’S POST MATCH

“I thought we were going to have a break here but unfortunately we didn’t. Yes, I think we can survive relegation, we just have to take our chances; if we had taken those chances in the first half, maybe we would have been three, four goals up. We need to be calm in front of goal.

“The government is trying now to live up to their parental responsibilities to ensure that things are done to get the team motivated and I think that will boost the team; yes the governemt is more committed than before. 

“When a team does not win the confidence level drops and is nowmore of psychological problem than technical, but we will keep working on correcting this.”

The Akure landlords next host MFM FC in a Southwest derby on match day 23.

Sunshine XI | Ariyo; Abe (C), (Olulayo 76′) Oladuntoye, Alimi, James, Adeyemi, (Emmanuel 73′)Adedipe, Obamote, Ekelojuoti, (Adejubu 73′) Yusuf, (Ojukwu 54′)

Subs | Ayodele; Ewelike, Abisoye, Yakub, Ajani

Cautions | Alimi 5′ Adeyemi 47′ Oladuntoye 55′

Chris Okunnuwa 
Media Officer; Sunshine Stars FC 
IG, FB & Twitter: @SunshineFCAkure