Pitch Maintenance in Nigeria : Matters Arising by Sheu Dikko

Sheu Dikko,the hardworking Chairman of the League Management Company the body that is responsible for the organization of the Nigeria Professional Football League ,NPFL,bare his mind on the maintenance of pitches across the various  NPFL stadia.

The Nigeria Football Federation 2nd vice president deposited his thought on the subject in the Nigeria Football Support Platform, NFSP, a whatsaap group dedicated to matters as they affect the game of Football in Nigeria.

Olusola Adebayo,hereby present the excerpt :

Indeed, I always believe that maintaining our pitches and indeed stadiums has to be done in the most professional way and must be handled by professional firms that are paid only on successful delivery rather than in most cases handled by employees whom do get their salaries and allowances regardless of weather they do the job well or not. This believe arrises from a personal experience I had around 2001 or so when I used to promote a team in Kaduna - Kaduna Professionals and we were to play a match at the ABS and the pitch was not good. So I brought money to get the pitch fixed and instead of getting a thank you from the man in charge of the pitch I got insults that I got involved with his job and he has already requested for money from Abuja to fix the pitch and now the money might not come. The issue here is that the man actually allowed the pitch to messed up so he can get a budget approved to fix it... this thinking is still the major problem with our pitches as most of those in charge don't care and only wants budget for repair. So the way forward on this is to think out of the box and face a new direction.

Indeed, one of the major take always from our recent visit and technical agreement with the Morrocan Football authorities is that we were able to see what they do to keep their pitches always top notch and in top shape across the country and we would be working to deploy the same system here.

1. Firstly in Morocco they had set up private companies that specialized in only the construction, installation, refurbishment and maintenance of football pitches (and some Golf pitches).

2. The companies work with Government at all levels and the football authorities to maintain the football pitches across the county from the top division to even the amateur teams...

3. For construction and or refurbishment of pitches the money for this is sourced through the Government (ministries of interior, youth, sports, works and finance all support the project) and when the pitches are installed they come with a 5 year maintenance contract (and they are maintained 24/7).

4. The football authorities also secure sponsors and partners as well as development funds to pay for the maintenance of pitches for professional clubs and some amateur pitches... the professional clubs pitches are almost all grass and or a mixture of grass and synthetic as we have in some top European clubs while the amateur pitches are mostly synthetic (but the top grade ones).

5. Through this model the Moroccan football industry has succeeded in ensuring their pitches are always in good shape and has created huge job opportunities across the country with thousands of people employed by this specialist companies working to keep their pitches in top shape. Indeed Morroco started this program since 1986 and everything is sourced in Morocco from the grass to the expertise (as they have trained expertise across across board and have developed perfect seedlings that suite their environment). So everything is 100% Moroccon. They even go to Europe to install pitches...

5. Accordingly, we have had a meeting with the best company in Morocco working for the FA and the Ministry of sport and handling over 150 pitches across Morocco including all the top pitches were the national team and the top clubs play and have agreed with them to come to Nigeria and set up so we can see how to create this type of specialist Industry in Nigeria to ensure the professional installation and maintenance of atleast the key football pitches available in nigeria for a start (both grass and synthetic). They would go round the country and evaluate the pitches and make recommendations and we take it from there. They would also work to set up units across the country that would be trained accordingly.

6. We intend to find the money for this project through a combination of the owners of the stadiums (which are mostly government) and finding some sponsors to support the project especially in the long term maintenance contracts. Maintenance is the key to the success of this project and thus must be funded correctly.

7. Hopefully, if this project works we would solve this problem once and for all.

8. Indeed, the CEO of this best football pitch construction  and maintenance company in Morocco we met with  is a woman and even the stadium manager of their national stadium in Rabat is also a woman and they are absolutely on top of their game.. this clearly shows his institutionalized the specialist pitch maintenance program has reached in Morocco and how far they have come.. it's really a delight to see this really...

FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT: SOUTH WEST STATES FOOTBALL FORUM TAKES GIANT STEP AS OONI OF IFE UNVEILS OODUA YOUTH LEAGUE TROPHY IN STYLE........

It was all fun at the Palace of the Ooni of Ife Kingdom as the South West States Football Forum blaze the trail and rolled out plans to take football development in the region to the next level.

The highly colourful ceremony  which was hosted by the Ooni of Ife Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll had in attendance top sports (football)  administrators, coaches, former internationals, and stakeholders from across the country, especially from the South West States.

Speaking at the event, Former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation who doubles as the Chairman of the Osun State Football Association, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi said the idea of having a common front in the area of football development in the South West was raised by the Ooni of Ife Kingdom, Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll.

Former National team Coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, who spoke on the gains ahead called for total commitments.

Former Board Member of the Nigeria Football Federation who is also a Member the House of Representatives, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran stressed the importance of women involvement.

The 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation who is also the Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Barrister Seyi Akinwumi stressed the need for genuine love and unity among people from the region.

The Chairman of the Ondo State Football Association who is also a Board Member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Otunba  Dele Ajayi while thanking God and all the stakeholders for making the event a huge success, said all hands are on deck as the region targets lasting legacies.

High point of the event was the UNVEILING of the OODUA YOUTH LEAGUE TROPHY by His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll.

The Royal Father who could not hide his joy and happiness commended the organisers of the event saying it will go a long way in bringing back the lost glory of the region in the world of football as well as foster strong unity and love.

Oba Ogunwusi who called on all sons and daughters of the Yoruba race and the country at large to live in harmony at all times, warned against hypocrisy and backbiting.

The Traditional Ruler who expressed his absolute support for the project to take football development to the next level in the region UNVEILED the OODUA YOUTH LEAGUE TROPHY to the GLORY of GOD and the BENEFITS of MANKIND.

The State of Osun (Osun State) was announced as the 1st beneficiary of the NFF secretariats to be built in all states of the federation just as the former Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency, Mr Akin Akinbobola emerged as the Coordinating Secretary of the South West States Football Forum.

Members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club led by its President General, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo were on hand to entertain the crowd and add glamour to the event.

The South West States Football Forum led by Chairmen of each state football association is poised to take football development in the region to the next level with programmes which include the OODUA YOUTH LEAGUE, WOMEN'S LEAGUE and the WORLD CUP amongst others.

The immediate past Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency, Prince Dapo Ajibade who commended the initiative expressed his beliefs that all the dreams will come true.

The General Manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club,  Rasheed Sodiya Balogun said the move has placed the region above others in terms of vision for development.

The event also had in attendance President of the Nigeria Football Referees Association, Chief Tade Azeez, President of the Nigeria Women League, Aisha Falode, Board Member of the Nigeria Women League, Kemi Adesanya, former board member of the NFA, Elder Dickson Adejube, immediate past Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports in Ondo State, Dayo Awude and former Chairman of the Ondo State Football Association, Dele Ogungbemi, former Green Eagles and Super Eagles players, Felix Owolabi and Mutiu Adepoju to mention only but few.

No doubt, this positive move to take football development to the next level in the South Western States of Nigeria will open more doors of good things to come now and the nearest future.

Akwa United Extend Unbeaten Run ___Play Goalless with MFM in Lagos

Ten man Akwa United extended their unbeaten run in the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL to four matches after playing a goalless draw with Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries MFM at the Agege stadium in Lagos on Sunday.

Stephen Odey failed to increase his goal tally when he missed a penalty in the 33rd minute after Kodjovi Dadzie handled the ball inside the box.

Aremu Afeez was sent off in the 86th minute of the game after a second yellow card following a late tackle.

The matchday 20 fixture was a reverse of the last match of the first stanza in which Akwa United won MFM in Uyo last month.

Akwa United's new signings Ojo Olorunleke, Harmony Ikande and Gabriel Okechukwu all made their debut in the match but the top scorers in the league, Stephen Odey of MFM and Alhassan Ibrahim of Akwa United caught fan's attention.

MFM needed a win to return to the top of the league while the Promise Keepers were targeting victory to break into the top four but the two teams could not find a way pass each other's defense despite a spirited performance.

Ifeani Ifeanyi and Aremu Afeez who dominated the midfield battle were both booked and the duo will miss Akwa United's home game against ABS of Ilorin.

Sikiru Olatunbosun, Stephen Odey and Adegboyega Adekunle all had chances to score for the home side but their efforts were well saved by Olo Olorunleke who had a wonderful game on his debut.

Coach Abdu Maikaba's team also had opportunity of their own Harmony Ikande, Gabriel Okechukwu and Alhassan Ibrahim were guilty on many occasions.

In the end a goalless draw was a fair result for both sides. With the result, MFM moved to 34 points while Akwa United have 30 points from 20 matches and occupy 6th position on the table.

Akwa United will next play ABS of Ilorin at the Nest of Champions in Uyo.

Ten-man Rivers United subdue Nasarawa United as NFL returns

Rivers United overcame Nasarawa United 1-0 in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game decided on Saturday at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt.

Ayo Saka scored the winner, an enthralling team goal that left the Nasarawa United goalkeeper, Suraj Ayeleso floundering.

Saka, making only his second start for the club after his mid-season switch from Sunshine Stars but made the decisive contribution in the match day 20 clash at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium.

The midfielder latched onto a superb pass from John Odumegwu who had been slipped through by a deft bit skill by Obomate Frederick before firing past the Nasarawa United goalkeeper, Suraj Ayeleso in the 38th minute.

Five minutes earlier, Rivers United had been reduced to ten men after captain, Festus Austine was sent off for a second bookable offence for handling the ball.

Rather than let their heads drop, the hosts stepped on the accelerator and deservedly took the lead through Saka’s supreme finish.

Odumegwu should have doubled their advantage shortly before half time but shot straight at Ayeleso from point blank range.

The second half failed to match the first in terms of entertainment value as United held out for three vital points.

After the game, technical manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma and head coach of Nasarawa United, Kabir Dogo both addressed the media in a joint press conference covered by our official website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng. (audio files have been attached).

Rivers United moved up two place on the log as a result of the win and now occupy 11th place on the log with 27 points from 20 matches while Nasarawa United remain in ninth place with 27 points from 20 matches.

Match statistics
Rivers United: Sunday Rotimi,  Ifeanyi Nweke,  Zoumana Doumbia,  Emeka Atuloma, Festus Austine, Ayobami Asekunuwo, Obomate Frederick, (Onoriode Odah 80'), Emeka Ogbugh, Guy Kuemian (Markson Ojobo 60'), Ayo Saka,  John Odumegwu (Ifeanyi Okoye 86').

Substitutes not Used: Femi Thomas, Chiwendu Ali, Israel Daniel and Yusuf Jaiyeola.

Nasarawa United: Suraj Ayeleso,  Yinka  Onaolapo (Abubakar Abdullahi 78’),  Emmanuel Makama, Eugene Obi, Seun Sogbeso, Jide Williams, Abdulrahman Bashir (Fabiyi Tayo 75'), Ishaya Anyu,  Ocheme Edoh (Philip Auta 57’),  Douglas Achiv and Adamu Hassan.

Substitutes not Used: Danlami Umar, Manga Mohammed, Abu Ahmed and Aminu Kadiri.

Yellow cards: Abdulrahman Bashir 49', Sunday Rotimi 25', Festus Austine 25' and 31'. 
Red card: Festus Austine: 33’
Goal: Ayo Saka 38'