Kunle Adelabu
-Residents commend Sanwo-Olu, Sports Commission
The ongoing reconstruction of the Igbogbo Township Stadium into a modern sporting facility will have a standard football field, tartan track and 1,200 sitting capacity.
The arena, situated along Old Agbele road (now Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way), will also have facilities for other indoor and outdoor games.
Engr. Ibukun Oludare, the Engineer of Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, a Delta State based construction company handling the project, revealed this to THE IMPACT on Wednesday (yesterday).
We gathered that the company also handled the popular Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State among other projects.
“This is a sporting facility with pavilion of 1,200 sitting capacity. The football field will be constructed in line with FIFA standard with natural grass. We are going to extend the current field down the arena” he said.
“We are also going to have a tartan track for the field events.
“Under the pavilion, we are going to have changing rooms for both home and away teams. Also, there will be offices and other facilities.
Engr. Oludare said that the construction of the pavilion is currently ongoing and will take three weeks to be completed.
“Right now, our focus is on the pavilion that is currently under construction. It is going to be constructed within three weeks.
“We are trying to complete the installation of the pillars today (Wednesday)”, he added.
He also told our reporter that the existing Igbogbo Youth Centre, which has unused hall and a basketball court, will give way for facilities for both indoor and outdoor games.
“This structure (Igbogbo Youth Centre) is going. In its place, we are going to have facilities for both indoor and outdoor games”, he said.
Also, the Beach Soccer Arena located within the Igbogbo Stadium, will also be affected.
According to the site engineer, the sandy beach, which is under construction, will give way for the stadium pavilion that will be extended close to the fence at the far end of the stadium.
He added that a yet to be ascertained location is being considered for the beach arena within the facility.
When asked about the Lions Club Vocational Centre situated beside the stadium, the Engineer said that he cannot categorically state if the stadium development will affect the structure.
“I cannot state categorically if the centre will stay or go but whatever it is going to be, we are going to take the decision together (with the community).
“Our surveyor will be coming around to do necessary surveying to determine what stays and those that will give way”, he added.
Meanwhile, speaking with Mr Tolu Faniyi, the President of De-Vanguard and a top management member of the Igbogbo Beach Soccer team, also called ‘The Adeboruwa Boys’, he said that the Lagos State Sports Commission that initiated the redevelopment of the Igbogbo stadium has assured them that the arena for the Beach Soccer will be situated in another part of the facility.
“The Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, has promised that the beach soccer arena will be moved to another part of the stadium.
“He has assured us that we should put our minds at rest.
“Mr Gafaar promised that the arena will be reconstructed with sand and other facilities”, he added.
He commended the government for the stadium project which he said will impact greatly on youths’ development in Igbogbo and Ikorodu Division generally.
Also, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, a chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and former Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG) and an eminent personalities in Igbogbo, has commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for the promise kept with the commencement of the redevelopment of the Igbogbo Stadium.
He described the governor as a great man who is impacting on many fronts.
“We thank God, the state government and the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission for the commencement of the redevelopment of the Igbogbo Stadium”, the elder statesman said.
“This is indeed a great news that you have broken to me because of my interest in the development of the stadium.
An Igbogbo-based FIFA Futsal badged referee, Mr Jelili Ogunmuyiwa, in a chat with THE IMPACT, said that he was glad with the commencement of the redevelopment works, adding that the stadium, when completed, will help in developing sports in the whole of Ikorodu Division.
“Glad that it is happening while I am still alive and still strong to participate in sports”, the FIFA rated Referee said.
“It is seriously going to have a great positive impact on the youth populace and the discovery of talents in the sports circle.
“It will afford Ikorodu people the opportunity to watch great football league matches. No excuse for NFF not to allow NNL and even NPFL games to hold here”, he said.
Mr Hameed Aroyewun, a former Commissioner nominee and the Vice President/Director of Programmes, De Vanguard, also commended the governor and the sports commission for the commencement of the redevelopment of the Igbogbo Stadium.
“Here is a governor that is living up to his pledge to the people of Igbogbo and Ikorodu Division in general. We thank you for ensuring that the development of the stadium commences after 40 years that some visionary leaders acquired it for the purpose”, he said.
“The facility, when completed, will serve as an arena where many local, state, national and international champions will be groomed.
“Through this, our youths will be productively engaged and also use their energy for positive development.
“Kudos to the members of the Lagos State Sports Commission for ensuring that the implementation of the redevelopment of the stadium is carried out”, he added.
