Kunle ADELABU
Attention: Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State, Lagos State; Commissioner for Sports & Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission; Mr. Agboola Dabiri, Ministry of Youth and Social Development; Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development; Mr Lasisi, Special Adviser on Revenue & Taxation; Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly; Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly; Hon. Babajimi Benson, Member, Federal House of Representatives, Council Chairmen in Ikorodu Division, Alhaji Babatunde Rotinwa, Chairman, Local Government Commission; Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Alhaji Musbau Gaffar and Police Authority in Lagos among others.
Seeing these pictures of the well known Police Barracks Playing Ground along Igbogbo road in Ikorodu will forced tears from many that know the implications of this sorry state on Ikorodu division that cannot boast of a single standard stadium.
This ground had hosted many generations of players and other sportsmen. On this very ground, many talents had been discovered which consequently enabled them to ply their sporting trades at the state, national and international levels.
The ground, which surface has largely been washed off by erosion, if left un-attended to in the next few months would be gone completely.
Trust our committed and ever-ready young men in Ikorodu who are ready to engage themselves in sporting activities despite little efforts from the government and other so called well-meaning personalities, they are still playing on that ‘deadly’ ground at great cost to their body. No wonder many of them don’t reach their peak anymore. So sad!
Currently, 10th Bolowotan Memorial Gold Cup ,which is being sponsored by a public-spirited young man who has been playing a great role in the development of the youths through football in Ikorodu division, Mr Toyin Gafaar Bolowotanm, is going on simultaneously with the Lagos East Senatorial Unity Cup being sponsored by Hon. Bayo Osinowo (Pepper), a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on that ground.
The ground will also be playing host to many other sport competitions that would be coming up later in the year.
The same ground has also been hosting the Oba Kabiru Shotobi Independence Day Mini-Marathon which is being sponsored by Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
It was when all hope was lost that the Alhaji Luqman Shonibare’s led Ikorodu Division Football Association raised fund to fill ditches caused by the rampaging erosion with sharp sand. What a sad development in a community that prides itself as Oga (master)?!
This playing ground and many others like that across the division need urgent intervention from the government and other well-meaning persons in Ikorodu division to enable them serve sports loving youths across the division effectively.
