From Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo

The Nigerian Women Football League, NWFL, has declared Osogbo Township Stadium unsuitable to host any of its league matches in the state.
The NWFL said henceforth, all home matches of the Osun Babes Football Club in the 2021/2022 NWFL Premiership Season will be played at the Lanre Leke Stadium, Ile-Ogbo, Osun State.
This was disclosed in a letter signed by Modupe Shabi, NWFL Chief Operating Officer dated December 6, 2021.
According to the letter, the decision was made after an inspection of the structure.
NWFL also stated that the body hoped that the necessary facelift will be carried out on the stadium facility in order to host its matches.
Reacting, a former Osun United Football Club press officer and Secretary, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Osun Chapter, Tajudeen Ahmad, stated that there are certain standard requirements for approval of home venues for clubs.
Ahmad added that if this were not met, appropriate sanctions was expected from the league management as in the case of Osun Babes.
“I could remember the last time NFF President, Amaju Pinnick came to Osogbo. He wasn’t satisfied with the condition of the pitch and promised to inform the Governor about it but nothing has been done up till now.”
While lamenting that it is unfortunate that Osun cannot have a standard stadium in spite of the high level of the state’s involvement in sports and the number of budding talents it has produced, Ahmad stressed that good performance of players and clubs is a function of a good pitch.
Expressing optimism that that state government will find a solution to the current problem, the Osun SWAN scribe noted that it is a challenge on those at the helms of affairs to do something on the pitch, dressing room and other areas identified by the NWFL.
“I hope there won’t be a double standard by NWFL cos there are many stadiums not up to the standard of Osogbo Township Stadium in Nigeria and league matches are approved to be played there. They should maintain fairness and justice in their decision to all teams,” he said.