The Lagos State Government (LASG) on Tuesday said that the Teslim Balogun Stadium pitch which until now was artificial turf would be replaced with grass to allow international matches to be played there.
The Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Kweku Tandoh, made the disclosure at the 2018 Ministerial Press Briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
The ministerial press was in commemoration of Gov. Akinwumi Ambode’s third year in office.
Tandoh said the remodeling of the Teslim Balogun Stadium would afford the state to bid for any FIFA competition which had been eluding the state in the past.
“’The governor has approved the replacement of Teslim Balogun Stadium pitch from artificial turf to grass which is a laudable initiative.
“This will allow us to bid for FIFA competitions which we have not been able to host because the pitch in the stadium is artificial. This means that Lagos can host our senior national team play in Lagos.
“Other stadiums in the state are also going through remodelling, we are investing heavily in infrastructure to allow for rapid development of sports.
“The LSSC also embarked upon the remodelling and modification of the Agege Stadium to the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) standard,’’ he said.
From left to right: Babatunde Bank-Anthony, D-G LSSC, Kweku Tando, Executive Chairman LSSC, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Kofoworola Awobamise, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy at the 2018 Ministerial Briefing to commemoration of Gov. Akinwumi Ambode’s third year in office.
]Tandoh said the Onikan Stadium which was under reconstruction would be ready sooner than expected, while other mini stadium would be remodelled too.
“I am pleased to say that Onikan Stadium will be ready sooner than expected, the stadium will now be ready by Jan. 2018 as against November.
“The Onikan Stadium when completed will be an all covered ultra-modern international stadium with FIFA certified artificial turf.
“The stadium will be a multi-purpose arena where entertainment concerts and other activities will be staged. This will be the first of its kind in Nigeria.
“The Lagos State Government has also approved the re modelling of Maracana Stadium in Agege because there we have the cradle of football in Lagos State,’’ he said.
Tandoh said that work on the Agege Stadium was not completed yet as the stadium would be remodeled to have an all-covered stands.
“The Lagos State Government has approved that the Agege Stadium be remodeled to have all covered seat, so work on the stadium is not completed yet.
“The stadium is now an international stadium where all CAF matches will be played, this is the reason we had Plateau United played their match in Lagos,’’ he said.
