By: Chinedum Ohanusi
As Niger Tornadoes look set to return to the legendary Ahmadu Bello Stadium, or seek refuge in any of the other venues, with better playing surface condition, for their home fixtures; the Nigeria Premier Football (League) management, have been urged to likewise move quickly and barr similar stadiums with poor pitches from hosting top flight games in the country.
Niger Tornadoes’, last fixture at the “unplayable” pitch, of the Bako Mohammed Memorial Stadium in Minna, was a come from behind 2-1 defeat of Heartland FC of Owerri; whose players, struggled to complete their passes, especially in the second half of that encounter.
While welcoming the decision of the NPFL management, it is of essence to also take a holistic look at all other match venues; especially the home grounds of El-Kanemi Warriors in Maidugiri, and the Umuahia Township Stadium, home ground of Abia Warriors FC.
While teams have complained about the nature of the stadium in Maidugiri, which Coach Usman Abd’Allah of Kano Pillars FC specifically said gives the Borno Warriors an unfair advantage over visiting teams; it was sports Journalists that covered the Oriental Derby in Umuahia, between Abia Warriors FC and Rangers Int’l FC of Enugu, that highlighted the poor condition of the playing surface here.
Technical Adviser of Rangers Int’l, Fidelis Ilechukwu who once labeled the pitch, as not good enough to host even Academy football; was however not forthcoming this time around, when asked if the undulating surface, adversely affected his side’s quality of play in their 0-1 defeat in the Abia State Capital.
With 26 matches played in the 2024/25 league season, and with just 12 rounds of matches to be played in the run-in, the NPFL and the Nigeria Football Federation inspectors, who approved these venues at the first instance, must move quickly to right the wrongs.
Why should clubs be allowed to play on bad or unplayable pitches, with all the risks of causing more injuries to the gladiators, and robbing the fans the joy of watching quality displays?
While there may not be any justification for these, other than our usual lack of forthrightness; let it be known that the seeming unwillingness of the clubs to standardize their home grounds, or play at other approved venues has got no alternative, and amounts to playing the Ostrich.
Should these clubs qualify to play in any of CAF’s Inter-Club Championships, they will surely be compelled to comply; like we saw when the President Federation Cup holders, El-Kanemi Warriors hosted their first preliminary round home game, in the CAF Confederation Cup in Ikenne; while Enyimba FC were compelled to play in Uyo!
A stitch in time saves nine, from mutating to ten; and selective treatment of clubs must not apply in taking these hard decisions, that shape the ratings and fortunes of our domestic football, once ranked in the African top 5.
With standard playing pitches, all 20 teams in the elitist division, would have been given level playing grounds, to play for the title, Continental tickets, to retain their top flight status, or get relegated to the second tier division, the Nigeria National League (NNL).
Not long ago, I penned a write up which appealed to the federal government to invest more in our domestic leagues, so that they can help in improving the quality of our pitches, as well as mitigate the spiralling unemployment amongst youths; and nurturing the sector to become a major player that can stimulate growth in Nigeria’s GDP; just as the English Premier League is a major eaner for the British government.
