Ref. Jelili Ogunmuyiwa Pleads For Beach Soccer Pitch At Igbogbo Stadium

Kunle Adelabu

The Igbogbo – born referee in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and a FIFA-badged Beach Soccer referee, Mr Jelili Ogunmuyiwa, has pleaded with the Lagos State Government through its Sports Commission, to include Beach Soccer field in the ongoing construction of the Igbogbo Township Stadium.

Ogunmuyiwa, who officiated at the recently concluded 2022 CAF Beach Soccer Championship in Mozambique, was at the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Portugal where he officiated four matches and also at the 2011 edition of the tournament in Italy. He also officiated the final match at the 2015 CAF Beach Soccer Championship in Caiman, Seychelles.

The no – nonsense Referee who was a former Chairman, Lagos State Referee Society, Ikorodu Chapter, also officiates at the Nigerian Premier League, said that Nigeria is not ready for beach soccer development, in an interview with THE IMPACT at the weekend.

“I am pleading, seriously begging everyone to join in appealing to the Lagos State government to include beach soccer pitch in the reconstruction of Igbogbo stadium”, he said.

While commending the initiators of the annual Igbogbo Beach Soccer tournament which has made the community one of few that promote the sport in the country, Jelili said that the game is not attracting necessary support in Nigeria.

“We are not ready in this part of the world. Beach soccer is more than a sport and I will always be grateful to the brain behind Igbogbo beach soccer fiesta”, he said.

“Until the government, political elites and philanthropists see sports beyond entertainment and that it involves job creation, reduction of social vices, etc…. .

“Let the government inculcate beach soccer in the sports we have in the land”, he charged.

Speaking on the recently concluded 2022 CAF Beach Soccer Championship in Mozambique, the top referee rated the tournament highly.

“I will rate the tournament 9/10. The organization was top notch. The people and the environment were really nice. The officiating at this year’s edition was the best so far on the continent with Referees in good physical conditions”, he said.

“There was no single complaint from teams”.

On his take away from the tournament, Jelili said:

“I was highly upgraded in the knowledge of the laws as regards the game”, he said.

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