Ondo State All Stars Football Veterans have qualified for the All Stars Veterans National Football Competition scheduled to take place in Ogun State later this year.
Ondo clinched the sole qualification ticket at the fifth edition of the South-West Veterans Zonal Qualifiers held in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Ekiti, Lagos, Osun, Oyo and Ondo States battled for the only available qualification slot, after Ogun State automatically qualified as hosts of the national competition.
Ondo will join Ogun State to fly the flag of the South-West at the national competition, which is scheduled to be held at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta later this year.
The hosts, Ondo State, edged out Lagos on goal difference after both teams finished level on eight points.
Ondo played a goalless draw against Lagos in their opening encounter, thrashed Osun 3–0, defeated Ekiti 2–1 and drew against Oyo in their final match of the qualifiers.
Speaking with newsmen after the competition, the President of Ondo State All Stars Football Veterans, Comrade Rafiu Yusuf (Elele), thanked God for the feat achieved by the team in securing the sole qualification ticket.
Yusuf also commended members of the Ondo State All Stars Football Veterans and their supporters for their backing, describing the qualification as a success for everyone associated with the team.
“I have to thank the retired but never tired All Stars players who represented our association, as well as the coaching crew, for their doggedness and concentration from the kick-off of the competition to the final day.
“This is the first phase of the competition and we need to swing into preparation for the national competition. We have the material to win the national competition.
“To this end, I call on all members of the Ondo State All Stars Football Veterans to come together in unity to ensure that we do not just go to Ogun State to make up the numbers, but to be genuine competitors.
“This is our association and we must come together to lift it up, so that the founding fathers of the association will be proud of us.”