BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Chairman Badagry Divisional Football Association, BDFA, Dr Martins Osondu has cried out to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to give them a befitting footbll stadium in Badagry.
Osondu made this passionate appeal while addressing journalists at the Badagry/RAK football league press conference held on Saturday in Badagry, Lagos.
Speaking at the press conference, Osondu expressed sadness that out of five divisional football associations in Lagos, only Badagry divison has no befitting sports center where footballers and sport people can execrise their body.
He lamented how absence of stadium has cost the career of footballers and other football stakeholders, urging the state government to look into their plight.
“Badagry has no a particular befitting stadium we can proud of.What we have here is a football playground owned by individuals or private sector.If you go round all the five divisions in the state, it is only Badagry has no football stadium and fortunately it is divison that is biggest among all divisions in the state.
“I am using this opportunity to appeal to our amiable governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to approve just a stadium in our divison so that the youths would be empowered through sporting activities,”he said.
Responding to Osondu lamentation, Lagos Commissioner of Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende disclosed that Governor Sanwo-Olu has graciously approved the befitting stadium for Badagry division and urged the football stakeholders to exercise patience for the present administration.
“His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is passionate about youth and social development in the state and he has approved the stadium to be built in Badagry.Presently the work is slow down and very soon the contractors would soon back to work,”he said.
Meanwhile the football stakeholders in the state also called on Governor Sanwo-Olu to expedite action at Agege Stadium.
Agege stadium has been shutdown for almost three years following the renovation of the stadium.
Our correspondent who visited Ifako-Ijaiye sports center recently observed that the sports center is yet to be completed for use.
At Ikorodu sports center, the job is almost done but still need to be completed for people of Ikorodu to enjoy NPFL league next season after Ikorodu boys got promotion ticket to premier league and also allow other NLO and NNL teams in the state to use Ikorodu as their home ground.
