The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Stadium

  • Lagos State to renovate National Stadium Surulere

    Lagos State to renovate National Stadium Surulere

    The Lagos state government has expressed interest in the renovation of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode made the state’s intent known when he paid a condolence and courtesy visit on the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung at his residence in Abuja at the weekend.

    “I will like to bring the national stadium to life. The last time a game was played there was in 2005. There is also the employment aspect of football and hosting of matches at the stadium. That includes the jerseys, branding, mama put, the sign writers, the supporters, merchandising, and so on. We want to bring back the football culture of Lagos State to the National Stadium after its renovation,” Governor Ambode said.

    Dalung thanked the governor for his visit and praised Lagos State for its successful hosting of the 2nd Lagos City Marathon.  He called on the state government to add more entertainment and culture to the event in subsequent editions to get more youths involved in the marathon and to ensure that Nigerians benefit more from the whooping prize money .

    On the renovation of the National Stadium by the Lagos State government, the minister said he will go through their proposal and work on it.

    “It is only fair that we hand over the stadium to Lagos State for renovation since we’ve given to Enugu, Bauchi and Kaduna states.

    “We were trying to drive a concession but Lagos State’s interest in the National Stadium is what we call an overriding interest which is based on equity. If Governor Ambode is interested in the National Stadium then the concession process is already abated,” Dalung said.

    The Minister noted that Nigerian football and its followership started going down when the National Stadium in Surulere ceased to host local and international matches.

    “No matter how strong your home team is, if you don’t have a common ground where your teams play their big games, the environment counts a lot. Football has so many interests and since we lost the National Stadium, Lagos, football started going down.”

    Governor Ambode has since invited the Minister for a joint working visit of the National Stadium with the Lagos State government to ascertain the level of decadence and to hold talks on the the evaluation and the next line of action to take.

  • NTTF Championships: National Stadium comes alive as 300 players begin hostilities

    NTTF Championships: National Stadium comes alive as 300 players begin hostilities

    The Indoor Hall of the National Stadium was yesterday ignited, as over 300 players across the country began the race for titles and cash prizes at the maiden Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Championships.
    With 18 titles at stake at the five-day N2.8m prize money championship, the team event kick-started the competition.
    20 female teams and over 40 male teams will jostle for honours in the event, while the para and junior, as well as cadet events, will begin today at the National Training Centre.
    According to the competition manager, John Peters, the turn-out of players and teams will be the biggest in the last three years, as some of the retired players are also taking part in the championship.
    Among the old players rubbing shoulders with the young ones, is Taofeek Maya, who is a former African champion in the 1990s.
    Maya, who recently won a tournament in Gabon, told NationSport that he hopes to use the championship to inspire the junior players. “I am over 50 years of age but I can tell you that there is no age barrier in table tennis and that is why Segun Toriola can still be competing with the continent’s and world’s best in major competitions. For me, table tennis is my life and I am enjoying every moment. I hope to make a statement with my performance in this competition. I must also commend the NTTF under the headship of Wahid Oshodi for restoring the glory of the sport. Table tennis is now getting popular as it used to be in the 1990s. I am happy that I am part of this resurgence,” Maya said.

  • Mikel, Musa, 18 others participate in Eagles’ first training session

    Mikel, Musa, 18 others participate in Eagles’ first training session

    Captain Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and 18 others on Tuesday took part in the Super Eagles’ first training session at the National Stadium, Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mikel and Musa were among the latest arrivals at the team’s camp on Monday night.

    The team was separated into three groups and began with a light walk-out and head-tennis training under the watchful eyes of Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr and Coach Salisu Yusuf.

    Mikel, Odion Ighalo, Ogenyi Onazi, William Troost-Ekong, Moses Simon and John Ogu made up the first group.

    The second group had Victor Moses, Musa, Kenneth Omeruo, Kingsley Madu and Uche Agbo.

    Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Musa Mohammed and Wilfred Ndidi were in the third group, while goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi trained separately.

    NAN observed that Ezenwa was very sharp in goal and displayed good reflexes, while his counterpart, Akpeyi was a little jaded and lacked match fitness.

    Mikel showed some sign of class and precision in his touches and passes, while Victor, Iheanacho and Iwobi were in excellent form.

    The trio of Leon Balogun, Brown Ideye and Shehu Abdullahi who were nursing knee and ankle injuries were engaged in light ball work.

    NAN, however, reports that Goalkeeper Dele Alampasu, Elderson Echiejile and Oghenekaro Etebo have yet to arrive at the camp.

    The Super Eagles are expected to hold another training session later on Tuesday.

    The Super Eagles will lock horns with Algeria in crucial Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Saturday.

  • Minister steps up bid to renovate Lagos National Stadium

    Minister steps up bid to renovate Lagos National Stadium

    Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung has come out with a bold step to ensure that the decaying and dilapidated National Stadium, Lagos is not only renovated but ranked among the best in Africa and one of the best in the world.

    He explained this to sports reporters in a press briefing at his office during the presentation of how the new-look National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos will look like by a firm that handled the project.

    Dalung who was speaking when a new template for the rehabilitation of the decayed Lagos sporting arena was presented in Abuja also maintained that no effort would be spared in ensuring that the country’s sports was returned to grassroots.

    According to the Sports Minister who equally asserted that plans are on by the federal government to implement sound youth developmental programmes enjoined various states to turn greater attention to youth as well as earmark more funds to sports development.

    “We are indeed looking outside the budget for the funding of this project because of the economic situation in the country. This government might not be able to fund the project.

    “We have opened discussion with investors on the possibility of their interest in it. We have a lot of people that have been showing interest in funding the project. So, I think funding is not going to be problem,” he said.

    He also boasted of recent sports development strides the National Sports Commission has recorded since he assumed office. The Minister said that time has passed when Nigerian sports depended on servicing sports adding that, “Some 20 to 30 years ago, our sporting attitude has changed from developing sports to servicing sports. What we have now is servicing sports architecture that only responds to needs by scouting for people whenever we have events.

    “Now we are going to have a complete paradigm shift from servicing sport to a developing sport. We are going to focus more on grassroots sports development and in doing this, the issue of inter-ministerial committee has been considered especially with ministry of Education where sport should be returned to school as it were in the 60’s.”

    An architectural company earlier on presented to the management of the ministry a structural design of how the National Stadium would look like when renovated.

  • We want Lagos National Stadium back-Stakeholders

    We want Lagos National Stadium back-Stakeholders

    Some former athletes have expressed misgivings over the rot at the National Stadium, Lagos.

    The land on which the stadium was built, according to accounts, was a former Railways sports ground. The stadium with an initial 55,000 capacity was built in 1972 in time to host the second All Africa Games in 1973.

    It was a multi-purpose sporting facility as it had an eight-lane tartan track, indoor sports hall, swimming pool and outdoor courts including hockey, handball and basketball.

    The stadium hosted several international competitions including the Africa Games in ‘73, the Africa Cup of Nations, 1980, the 1999 World Youth Championships – U-20 and the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The stadium was arguably, one of the best in the continent then as it was referred to as “pride of the nation’’.

    However, lately the facility is a shadow of its former self, as virtually all the sporting facilities in the complex are dilapidated. Some of the sports great athletes that won laurels while representing the country in major international events, expressed concerns at the parlous state of the stadium.

    Lately, it had been occasionally used for religious gatherings and was at one time taken over by area boys and squatters.

    However, in 2009, the National Sports Commission (NSC) made concerted effort to bring the facility back to world class status.

    Some of the top athletes in separate interviews told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that the stadium needed to be given urgent rehabilitation.

    Segun Odegbami, a former skipper of Green Eagles said the current state of the structure was a reflection of the present state of the country. “It is a shame to the country.

    “I played on that pitch and scored important goals. It gave me joy. I was happy playing on it. The feeling alone gives me goose pimples any time I recall my playing days on that pitch.

    “I felt elated to play not just because I was a footballer but because I was playing on home soil where the crowd cheered.

    “I cannot imagine the opposite way we see of it today. It is in a mess, a pitiable situation; it is a shame on the reflection of the country,’’ he said.

    Odegbami, fondly called “Mathematical’’ won 46 caps and scored 23 goals for the national team and most of it on that pitch.

    He was in the victorious team to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980, an event that was staged at the National Stadium, Lagos.

    “We can only hope for the right change, the change to restore the stadium back to its glorious days as we enter into a new dispensation,“ he said.

    Christian Chukwu, skipper of the Eagles to the 1980 Nations Cup victorious team, said he was not pleased with state of the stadium.

    The former Super Eagles’ coach lamented that it was time to refurbish the facility, one of the national symbols from total ruins.

    “I am never a happy man anytime I see the extent of the dilapidation of the structures that has been yearning for rehabilitation. It takes me back in time when I recall my playing days on the facility.

    “A stadium we believe brings us good luck each time we play on it. Each time I come out of the tunnel and see the fans chanting my name and those of my teammates, it gives me confidence to go all out.

    “I believe I played my best football on that pitch. I am pleading with the Federal Government to give it the deserved attention and restore it to its place of glory to help the growth of sports in the country’’ Chukwu said.

    Adokiye Amiesimaka, another member of the victorious squad said: “The stadium is living in its shadows. I never thought it would come to this; the place is just a scary place to come to.

    “I remember in my time, it was a glorious place to be. I shared many victories on that pitch, notably in 1980, when we won the Nations Cup.

    “I am pleading to the NSC to intercede on the matter,’’ he said.

    Babatunde Obisanya, former Africa table tennis champion and winner of the maiden Asoju-Oba Cup table tennis championship, said it was unfortunate seeing the stadium lying fallow without operating to its full capacity.

    “In my time, there was order and sanity. We made use of the Indoor Sports Hall, where I played.

    “It was a place where we were proud of. Above all, it was a thing of joy for many of us that won laurels for the country. I pray that the new government will see a way to turn around the present situation.”

    Obisie Nwankpa, a former professional light welterweight boxing champion in 70s, 80s and 90s, said the stadium, which was meant for sports development had been turned into a drinking joint and shopping centre.

    “I am not happy to see the state at which the stadium is, I feel sad anytime I look at this wonderful structure where I won medals for the country.

    Yusuf Ali, a 1990 Commonwealth Games long jump gold medalist, said it was sad to know that the track was now in tatters.

    “I ran for the country and set an African record on that track. I ran for the love of the sport, the stadium was a place to be. It is a shame to see that it’s all gone and nobody even cares about it.’’

    Christopher Ohaegbu, a former Head of Protocol, NSC also said that the stadium was a lively place, where all athletes came together to share common vision of success in sports.

    Elias Gora, a former Secretary-General of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) said: “There are three main steps to take to help rebuild the stadium.

    “The government should partner with the private sector to help manage and maintain the stadium.

    “They should also organise internal and foreign training programmes for the stadium managers to help them update their knowledge on stadium management,’’ he said.

  • Refuse dumps take over National Stadium

    Refuse dumps take over National Stadium

    About five refuse dumps have been spotted around the National Stadium Complex in Surulere, Lagos, leaving the arena filthy and unhealthy for users.

    The dumpsites are at the weightlifting gymnasium, opposite the mechanic workshop, behind the main bowl by the legacy pitch, and the boxing gymnasium/secretariat.

    Some athletes and coaches who train at the stadium decried the awful sight.

    They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the present state of the complex was not good enough and could pose health hazards to the stadium users.

    Many, including sportsmen and women, troop to the facility in the evenings, but mainly at weekends, for jogging and other forms of exercises.

    Others also patronise daily, many of the drinking and relaxation joints within the complex. The Joints and their customers generate the wastes.

    Okechukwu Elendu, who exercises at the facility, called on the management to be more responsive in ensuring its cleanliness.

    Elendu condemned the dumping of refuse at strategic places within the complex, describing it as an eyesore.

    “The stadium management is trying but they must do more in the area of refuse dumps; we are not supposed to see or smell waste, it’s dangerous to health,’’ he added.

    Ijeoma Iherobiem, an athlete, said the cleaners come around in the morning to do their job, adding that they usually solicit for trash bins to evacuate the waste.

    Iherobiem said the place was messed up because of lack of dust bins, adding: “The heaps constitute mainly nylon — sachet water, biscuit wraps, banana peels, empty cartons of wine and bottles.

    “I know they used to have a tractor that they used in evacuating waste to their dump sites. The vehicles must have broken down.

    “That is why we now see waste in recent times, the cleaners now use wheel barrows to move huge waste to the dumpsites. The barrows are inadequate to cope with the amount of waste generated daily.

    The Stadium Manager, Abolore Alanamu, said the management was committed to ensuring a healthy environment for users.

    He said the engineer or tractors used to dispose waste had since packed up, noting: “This is a major challenge to us, management is making alternative arrangements, however.”

    According to him, under a new arrangement, cleaners are to gather waste at some designated spots, from where the wheelbarrows would be used to move them to the dumpsite by the Alaka end of the complex.

    “Although our tractors are bad but we have a way of managing the dirt collected by cleaners, but we have issues with waste baskets because they are always missing,’’ he said.

    The manager said that management would employ more security personnel to man strategic spots and apprehend perpetrators stealing waste disposal baskets and dumpsters.

  • 60 players jostle for T.V.P Nair Memorial U-16 Squash Tourney

    60 players jostle for T.V.P Nair Memorial U-16 Squash Tourney

    Over 60 players will be competing at the 4th edition of T.V.P. Nair Memorial Under-16 squash tournament, which started yesterday with a training session at the squash hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    The three-day event, which is part of efforts to further develop the game of squash at the grassroots level no doubt would also bring elites in the sports as well as squash fans and businessmen alike to witness the exciting sporting event.

    Speaking to one of the players, Fatoki Oyindamola after the training session yesterday, she said she was ready to battle her opponents at the championship.

    “I love the game of squash and I’m going to do my best possible to ensure that I carve-a-niche for myself,” she opined.

    However, the tournament will parade the likes of 2013 champions, Onaolamipo Adegoke, John Michael, Oladele Pratt, Idowu Ogunyemi and the host of other.

    Since inception the competition has led to the discovery of talents, thanks to the sponsor of the tournament, Chief Vijay Nair for his unrelenting effort in ensuring that the tournament lives up to its billing.

    Meanwhile, cash and gifts await the champions of the tournament.

  • Concession of National Stadium blessing to sports development —Gora

    Concession of National Stadium blessing to sports development —Gora

    A former sports administrator, Elias Gora, on Tuesday said the concession of the National Stadium in Lagos by the Federal Government would promote sports development at the grassroots.

    Gora told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that it would also ensure that the facility was adequately maintained.

    He said President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval for the concession of the facility would save the edifice from dilapidation due to neglect.

    “That National Stadium was built from 1968 to 1972 to be able to host the second All African Games during Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s administration. That means after the Liberty Stadium (now Lekan Salami Stadium) in Ibadan, it is the second stadium.

    “And so, government shouldn’t have allowed it to deteriorate to the level it has got to,’’ Gora, who retired as an Assistant Director from the National Sports Commission (NSC), said.

    “It’s an aberration. I am extremely glad at the fact that the bull has been taken by the horns by ensuring that proper attention is paid to that facility.

    “Now without those facilities, youths do not have a place to go to play but with such adequate facilities, we have a large number of our youths going to play. And that is when they can be scouted as talents and coaches can see them in such field of play.’’

    Gora also praised the NSC for its foresight in the management of one of the country’s national treasures.

    “So, it’s a good thing that the commission has taken the necessary steps to renovate that facility in spite of the huge damage that had happened to it,’’ he said.

    The stadium, completed in 1972 with a 55,000 seat capacity, hosted the All African Games, Africa Cup of Nations and U-17 World Cup, among other regional championships.

    Gora, also a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, was Nigeria’s Chef de` Mission at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.

  • Coach lauds renovation of National Stadium knock-up Hall

    Coach lauds renovation of National Stadium knock-up Hall

    Coach Ayoola Popoola of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps Table Tennis Club, on Thursday lauded the ongoing renovation of the Knock-up Hall at the National Stadium, Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that that the hall where players usually trained, had been locked up for almost three months now, leaving the players to train elsewhere.

    NAN reports that the renovation started last November and has renewed the hope of players to resume training at the hall.

    Popoola told NAN in Lagos that the renovation was timely as the country prepared for the Commonwealth Games, later in the year in Glasgow, Scotland.

    “The renovation is long overdue. It will, no doubt, go a long way in preparing our players for the Commonwealth Games,’’ he said.

    Popoola then commended the board of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), headed by Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, for the renovation.

    An NTTF official who sought anonymity told NAN that the renovation was necessary in order to bring back national athletes to the stadium, in preparation for the challenges ahead.

    “Our athletes now trained in various private clubs and mostly at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Yaba and at the Union Bank Sports Club, Surulere. But it is making the proper monitoring of the athletes difficult for the coaches and officials, especially now that we are preparing for the Commonwealth Games.

    “I believe the renovation will be completed before the end of this month, to enhance our preparation for the Games,’’ he said.