Two fashionable grounds for grassroots soccer motion in Lagos State – Ejigbo Mini Stadium and Sansan Pitch at Igando – had been on Saturday taken over by non secular and social actions, respectively.
On the spot checks by Sports247 revealed that, whereas a well-liked pentecostal church took over the mini stadium at Iyana Ejigbo, alongside Ikotun-Isolo Highway, a burial feast was ongoing at Sansan Pitch, near the royal father’s palace at Igando.
A cross-section of younger and aspiring footballers who spoke to Sports247 at each venues disclosed that such occurrences at the moment are widespread at each grounds, as neighborhood leaders typically lease public areas as soon as occasion organisers are able to pay stipulated charges.
Nonetheless, a teen named Okikiola Akinpelu instructed Sports247 that his coach knew forward of time that the pitch wouldn’t be out there for his or her coaching session and he rapidly organized for them to play an away pleasant match, which might hold them busy this Saturday at one other venue.
However, some gamers had been noticed at Iyana Ejigbo subject, wanting dejected and confused, as they’d apparently not been conscious that the sector, which additionally homes a well-liked basketball academy, wouldn’t be out there this Saturday.
When taken up on the event, an official of the church, whose revival despatched all soccer actions packing this weekend, posited that there’s nothing improper in altering the sector’s regular routine, particularly when the occasion taking on is about spreading the phrase of God.
One other official of the church, who refused to present his identify, added: “We’ve not achieved something improper by coming right here with our campaign. We don’t do that on a regular basis. So, from time to time, they need to please bear with us.
“I do know that issues like this even occur at huge stadiums internationally and all throughout Nigeria …. speak much less of this small pitch. Even colleges usually give out their premises for occasions like this, when you pay their rental charges.”
