Lagos State government is currently in the final stage of preparing not less than five different stadia to host matches next season in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) and second-tier Nigerian National League (NNL).
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This revelation was provided by Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s senior special assistant on sports, Honourable Damilare Orimoloye, while celebrating the qualification of three teams to the NNL Super-8
His excitement was sequel to a 2-0 win recorded by Inter Lagos FC over Ijebu United of Ogun State in a crucial NNL game on Sunday, thereby taking them into the promotion play-offs alongside their neighbouring duo of Ikorodu City and Madiba United.
This development raised critical talk about the possibility of two additional sides from The Centre of Excellence joining Sporting Lagos in the top-flight NPFL, with an attendant worry over non-availability of facilities to accommodate them all.
The increase in the number of Lagos-based national league campaigners comes at a point two of the city’s major grounds, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and Agege Stadium are still undergoing renovation, while Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan and Maracana Stadium, Ajegunle appear over stretched with matches in the NNL and third-tier Nationwide League One (NLO).
However, Honourable Orimoloye is quick to point at grounds being opened at Ikorodu, Ifako-Ijaye, and Gbagada to douse any worry about lack of enough facilities in the state.
He stated as much while celebrating the ascent of three Lagos-based sides into the NNL’s Super-8, which he tagged a historic moment worth relishing by everyone in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
“It’s a happy moment for everyone in Lagos State, happy one for Lagos State Football Association, happy one for Lagos State Sports Commission and happy one for Lagos State government as a whole,” Orimoloye pointed out.
He added: “This has been our aim. It has been our target to have Lagos State well represented in football and in other sports.
“Today is a testament to the fact that, yes, Lagos is a city of resilience and excellence. The results we are seeing are not short of it. This is something that is obvious. It’s not an audio development. It’s something you can go and see.”
Orimoloye went on to specifically mention the new grounds scattered across the metropolis, which he believes are capable of hosting top grade football matches and various sporting events in the coming days.
“For instance, you can go to Igbogbo Stadium in Ikorodu to see the level of development going on there. You can go to Gbagada … the same level of development there. You can go to Ifako-Ijaye to see the level of development there.
“Agege too is not left out, because we are now laying the grass. So, it is all a testament to the fact that, come next season, we have nothing less than four to five stadia ready for active football and active sports,” Orimoloye stressed.
