The Ikeja Divisional FA, after various postponements due to unavailability of the preferred pitch, have finally announced in a press conference that the league of 41 teams will kick off on the 27th November 2021 with the Isheri Border Rehabilitation Centre pitch as the new venue for the old competition that has its mark on Nigerian football.
Reacting to the news, Bello Jubril, coach of Sugarland FC told Sports247 that it’s a welcome development giving teams the opportunity to send out players who can excel and push their career up.
“It gives us the opportunity to send some players out and introduce new legs and freshness into the system which is a positive way to go,” he said.
Manufacturers cup was said to have produced many national stars such as Dosu Joseph, Wasiu Ipaye, Michael Onyemachara as well as Coach Bello Jubril who himself participated in the competition as a player in ‘96/97, signing for LSDPC through the platform and then going on to become the top scorer of the competition the next season in ‘98 when his team LSDPC won the competition. He also got to the finals in the last edition as a coach when his side were defeated 2-0 by My People FC.
“It’s a competition I’m proud of and I’ll always love to be part of. Even if I’m with the National team, I’ll still groom players to take part in the competition. It’s a good platform to discover a lot about your team,” Jubril concluded.
