The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) has mandated the management of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan to pick a stadium either in Lagos State or Ogun State for their remaining home matches in the 2025/2036 league season.
The NPFL conveyed the decision via a letter to the management of the 3SC on Friday.
NPFL said the decision became inevitable because of the poor state of the Oyo State government owned Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
The stadium serves as the venue for the home matches of the 3SC.
Oyo State government under Governor Seyi Makinde had about three years ago claimed that it spent N5.8 billion to repair and upgrade the pitch and other facilities at the stadium.
This NPFL decision to ban the stadium due to its poor state have started attracting comments from members of the public across the state and beyond.
Commentators expressed shock that the stadium could be adjudged unsuitable in spite of claim by the administration of Governor Makinde that it spent a whooping N5.8 billion to renovate the stadium.
The letter written by the NPFL to the management of the 3SC on the poor state of the stadium partly reads : ” We bring you compliments of the Board, Management and Staff of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
“We wish to inform you that subsequent to the broadcast and television rights entered into by the Nigeria Premier Football League re recently, it has become necessary to inform you that the LEKAN SALAMI STADIUM is no more suitable to host NPFL matches.
“Based on the above, you are required to choose an alternative venue between the MKO ABIOLA STADIUM ABEOKUTA and the MOBOLAJI JOHSO ARENA LAGOS to host your home fixtures.
“Your reply should reach the NPFL secretariat on or before the close of business on Monday, 2 February, 2026, or the NPFL will be forced to allocate a venue for you.
“This is for your information and immediate compliance. Accept the assurances of our best sporting regards.”
By this development, due hard fans will not have the opportunity of watching their darling team playing its home matches at the Lekan Salami Stadium.
Secondly, this decision may also affect the morale of the players of the 3SC who are currently struggling to ensure that the team finish the season among the top four so that they can represent the country in a continental competition next season.
The Oyo State government will also lose a chunk of its internally generated revenue to this decision as all revenues that are suppose to accrued to it from the stadium will go to either Lagos or Ogun States.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
