The remodelled Warri City Stadium pitch has been praised by Nigerian football legends Segun Odegbami and Mutiu Adepoju, who expressed their excitement and hope for the future of Nigerian football. During an inspection tour of the stadium, Odegbami, a former Green Eagles captain, joked that he felt like playing football again, highlighting the significant improvement in the pitch's condition. The stadium's renovation was undertaken by Governor Sherriff Oborevwori, who brought in Peculiar Ultimate Concern Ltd to complete the project.
The Warri City Stadium has a history of struggles with its pitch, which led to the city being disqualified by a FIFA inspection team in 2009. Since then, various administrations have attempted to renovate the stadium, but the terrain has consistently hindered progress. However, with Governor Oborevwori's intervention, the stadium is now nearing completion. The renovation work has reached an advanced stage, with the contractor, Lare Adeleke, commending his team for a job well done.
The touring team, which included Odegbami, Adepoju, and Mainasara Ilo, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Doping Centre, congratulated the contractor on the excellent work. Adepoju, a member of the 1994 Super Eagles AFCON-winning squad, expressed his optimism that the new pitch would contribute to a resurgence in Nigerian football. He noted that the pitch's condition was a significant factor in the country's football fortunes.
The contractor, Lare Adeleke, explained that his firm overcame the perennial drainage issue to achieve the impressive result. The new pitch features four discharge points to drain out water and six layers underneath the paspalum grass, which is a first in Nigeria. Adeleke's company has also worked on similar projects in Lagos and is set to install modern pitches in Yenagoa and Asaba.
According to Adeleke, Nigeria lags behind countries like Morocco, South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, and Rwanda in terms of modern football pitches. However, he projected that Nigeria could have up to 10 stadiums with modern pitches in the next couple of years. The renovation of the Warri City Stadium is a significant step towards improving football infrastructure in Nigeria.
Segun Odegbami praised the contractor's work, describing the pitch as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." He emphasized that a good pitch is essential for selling Nigerian football and that Adeleke's work has set a high standard. Odegbami's enthusiasm was shared by Adepoju, who believes that the new pitch will help Nigerian football regain its former glory.
The renovation of the Warri City Stadium is a testament to Governor Oborevwori's commitment to improving sports infrastructure in Nigeria. With the stadium nearing completion, football fans and stakeholders are eagerly awaiting its official opening. The remodelled pitch is expected to host various football events and provide a world-class playing surface for Nigerian teams.
Key points
- The remodelled Warri City Stadium pitch features paspalum grass and six layers underneath to prevent waterlogging.
- The stadium's renovation overcame a perennial drainage issue with four discharge points to drain out water.
- Nigeria aims to have up to 10 stadiums with modern pitches in the next couple of years.
