By Ibrahim Adekunle
The Executive Committee of the NFF at the EXCO meeting held in Abeokuta on 28th December 2020 approved the mooted date of Saturday, 16th January 2021 for the commencement of the Season 2020-2021 of the Nigeria National League, and Wednesday, 10th February 2021 for the commencement of the new season for the Nigeria Nationwide League One.
Several findings of the preparedness of Ekiti State-based teams which includes the government-funded Ekiti United FC expected to participate in the NNL and Fashmog and Phoenix FC at the NLO cadres of the Nigerian football league revealed that these teams have no approvable playing stadium complex that would meet the minimum required standards of any of the league bodies.
It was discovered that since Governor John Kayode Fayemi in February this year gave approval for the regrassing of Oluyemi Kayode stadium, Ado-Ekiti which remains the major soccer arena in the state, works on the playing pitch has been laikadasical and poor.
Other facilities like the dressing rooms, toilets, media tribune and other necessary aspects that needed to be repaired and upgraded are yet to receive attention.
Concerned football stakeholders are worried that the state teams might end up not having grounds to host their games this season, if the state government and its agencies do not take the reconstruction and upgrading of sports facilities in the state seriously.
