Kunle Adelabu
A FIFA badged beach soccer referee, Mr Jilili Ogumuyiwa, has pointed at the lack of a stadium and inadequate sporting facilities as major factors militating against the performances of football teams from Ikorodu in the national league.
Ogunmuyiwa, who recently officiated in the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, lamented the narrow escape by the only team representing Ikorodu Division in the national league, Ikorodu City FC, from being relegated in the recently concluded Nigeria Professional Football League.
The top rated referee, writing on his Facebook page on Sunday, said that the lack of a football stadium has denied Ikorodu teams home matches and made them to travel for their home matches.
“In 2016,the first ever community based team, IKORODU UNITED, was relegated from the highest league in Nigeria, the Nigeria Professional Football League. The team and IKORODU people had to travel to far away Onikan Stadium, Lagos, now, renamed MOBOLAJI JOHNSON STADIUM, LAGOS, just because there is no stadium in the entire lkorodu division to host such games”, he lamented.
“Here we are again, another team, IKORODU CITY FC, narrowly escaped relegation in 2022, just 6 years after another team from Ikorodu got relegated.
“No thanks again to no stadium to host league matches in the entire lkorodu division”, he added.
While calling for concerted efforts to put in place a good stdium with adequate facilities, the Igbogbo – born beach soccer referee also stated that the situation has hindered many talents in Ikorodu Division from maximizing their talents.
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“Ikorodu division is one of the five main divisions in Lagos, isn’t it appropriate it has a stadium?”, he asked.
“Talents are wasting away, youths not getting real recreational activities.Things need to take a new turn as we look forward to new football season in Nigeria”, he said while charging those concerned.
Meanwhile, the redevelopment of the Igbogbo Township Stadium, Igbogbo, which is ongoing seems the only hope of having a standard arena in Ikorodu Division, but its completion may take some time going by the work rate going on at the project.
Ogunmuyiwa officiated the final match of the 2015 CAF Beach Soccer Championship between Senegal and Madagascar. He also officiated 4 matches at the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup after he had previously officiated at the 2011 tournament.
