By Rotimi Ojomoyela
As the 2014 World Cup Finals commence today, Ekiti state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has designated some centers across the state for free viewing.
To this end, some centres have been branded for free viewing by the governor who has paid the subscription and gate fees for viewers, saying that he was doing so to encourage many football fans to go out and follow the matches at no cost.
According to the governor, Nigeria’s Super Eagles deserve a pride of place at the Mundial and as many Nigerians as possible should be able to follow their exploits.
“Football is our uniting sport. As many Nigerians as wish to watch the World Cup matches should be able to do so even if they cannot afford to travel to Brazil. We should be able to support the viewing centre operators to accommodate as many viewers as possible without hindrance,” he noted.
Responding to the gesture, the chairman of the Association of Viewing Centers Operators (AVECO) in Ekiti state, Mr. Ojo Abiodun, commended the governor’s effort and asked football fans to troop out en masse to watch the matches at the designated centers, most importantly the Nigerian matches.
“Governor Fayemi is a football fan himself and he has scored another first with the gesture because no governor had done it for us before,” Abiodun said.
Another member of the group, Mr. Bayo Awonusi said the governor’s gesture is a recognition of the place of football among the people and as a man of the people, man of peace and friend of the youths, football fans would always prefer him as the governor of the state to any other person who do not mind whether the youths enjoy their passion or not.
Dr. Fayemi also seized the opportunity to send words of encouragement to the members of the Super Eagles, urging them to go out there and do the country proud by performing better than in their past outings.