Kunle Adelabu
Encouraged by the exploits of the Igbogbo Beach Soccer team, nicknamed, ‘The Adeboruwa Boys’, the community has started the construction of an arena to serve as the home ground for the team which is currently playing in the National league.
The arena, which would have a sandy pitch among other facilities and located within the Igbogbo Township Stadium, according to report gathered, is being facilitated by Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, on the request of the management of the team.
The construction of the mini beach stadium commenced at the end of April and it’s being handled by the HiTech Construction Company.
The project is said to be enjoying the assistance of the royal father who has also been providing immense support for the Beach Soccer team since their return from the phase one of the national league in Lagos.
According to the management of the team, the ongoing construction of the specialise pitch need about 400tonnes of sharp sand to make it useful for the team to train on it before leaving for the second phase of the league which starts May 11 in Kebbi.
Ogunlewe Ademola (Oruma), one of the managers of the team, who spoke at the weekend with THE IMPACT, alongside other members of the management crew, said that the team is in dire need of support from the public and the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA authority to put the sandy pitch in place as well as for the successful prosecution of the team’s games in Kebbi.
“I want to thank His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, for contributing to the progress of the team, particularly on the construction of a sandy pitch for the beach team within the Igbogbo stadium”, he said.
“He has been working tireless on it (sandy pitch) and also he has been involving some members of the community in the project too.
“Oba Kasali also secured the service of the HiTech Construction company to do the construction of the beach soccer field for us which is already 75% completed”, he added .
Appealing for the support of the well – meaning individuals, Ogunlewe said the team still need assistance, particularly in the area of supply of sharp sands and construction of stands round the pitch.
“What is remaining now is to use sharp sands to fill the pitch. We need about 400tonnes .We have met some of the dredgers at Bayeku and they have made promises in that regard.
“More so, we still need support from individuals and groups because we don’t expect the dredgers to give us everything”, he said.
“There may be no specific timeline for the completion of the arena for now, but we are working towards making the it ready for use this week.
“We need this support now because Kebbi is just around the corner and we need the pitch to train”, he pleaded.
Meanwhile, a source within the Adeboruwa palace told THE IMPACT that Oba Kasali has big plans for the team and that he’s doing everything to encourage further development of beach soccer and make it a major sports that will be exploited by young men in Igbogbo and Ikorodu Division in general.
He added that the royal father also want other residents, especially privileged individuals with means, to intervene by supporting the team financially for the successful prosecution of their matches in Kebbi and also towards having a standard beach stadium within the Igbogbo Township Stadium.
