Sports
Lagos to Take Over Surulere National Stadium
By Dipo Olowookere
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday declared the readiness of his administration to take over the National Stadium in Surulere from the Federal Government and transform the facility from its present deplorable condition to a world class sporting centre.
Speaking after embarking on an extensive inspection tour of the facilities in the Stadium alongside the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung; Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Mr Amaju Pinnick and other top government functionaries, Governor Ambode said it was unfortunate how things had degenerated, but expressed preparedness to hit the ground running towards restoring the old glory of the Stadium once officially handed over to the state.
The Governor, who recalled how enthusiastic and interesting it was for people in the past to visit the Surulere Stadium even with their families to watch matches and catch fun among others, said repositioning the Stadium would not only help to bring about layers of employment but that it would also facilitate family bonding.
He said: “This visit is very historic. I recall that during our campaign, we promised that we are going to use tourism, entertainment and arts and sports to drive youth employment as well as drive excellence. So, this is just one chapter in that roadmap to growing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Lagos.
“With the state of affairs here, we cannot fold our arms and just leave this monument to just waste away. The last match that was played here was about fifteen years ago but the truth is this, the inner key to youth empowerment and youth employment is actually in re-establishing this edifice to its real world class standard,” he said.
The Governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for graciously approving that the handover of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium to Kaduna State as well as Enugu Stadium and Calabar Stadium to Enugu and Akwa Ibom State governments respectively.
“What we ask for in Lagos is not as if we are being aggressive, we just think that we need to stand up for leadership here and take over the National Stadium,” the Governor said.
The Governor also commended the Sports Minister for spearheading the move to handover the Stadium to Lagos State and expressed optimism that the journey which had started would eventually lead to a formal pronouncement.
He said aside the fact that the state government was already planning to construct five stadia in the five administrative divisions of the state to grow sports, the government also has a functional agency in charge of facility management, assuring that the Surulere Stadium would be properly and efficiently managed once handed over to the state.
Earlier, Mr Dalung lamented the dilapidated condition of the Stadium which he described as a national disaster, just as he called for serious and comprehensive action to reposition the Stadium and return it to its pride of place.
While expressing confidence in the ability of the State Government to transform it, Mr Dalung specially thanked Governor Ambode for his interest and commitment to the success of the move to reposition the Stadium.
“We have gone round and we have seen the edifice in a sorry state. Whatever we can do to arrest the situation, we must do it. In my village, there is an adage, which says once there is fire disaster, there is no choice of liquid and any liquid that can contribute to extinguish the fire, must be mobilized including liquor. But today, we have a disaster and we must do everything possible to extinguish it.
“I want to thank the Governor for finding time to come. I have received what I can call football gossip from football federation that if the Surulere Stadium is handed over to Lagos and renovated in six months, the next match of Nigeria against Zambia would be played here,” the Minister said.
He also appealed to Governor Ambode to revamp the Stationary Stores Football Club of Lagos.
Some of the facilities inspected at the Stadium include the Molade Okoya Tennis Hall, 3000 Capacity Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports Hall, Beach Soccer Pitch, Synthetic Football Pitch and the 38,000 Capacity Main Bowl Football Field.
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For more than two decades, Arsenal fans in Nigeria lived through the jokes, memes, near-misses and endless “second place” and “next season” conversations. Now, with the club finally back at the top of English football, the long wait has given way to celebration.
Arsenal’s Premier League triumph, confirmed after Manchester City’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, has triggered widespread celebrations across Nigeria, where the North London club has one of the country’s biggest football fanbases. As part of the moment, DStv and GOtv are extending the celebration by opening key SuperSport channels to more subscribers ahead of the final Premier League games and Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
From “Almost” Team to Champions
This title feels different partly because of how many times Arsenal came close before finally breaking through. The club finished second repeatedly in recent seasons and spent long stretches being labelled football’s “nearly men.” Every dropped point, late collapse, and failed title push became instant fodder for online banter.
Even this season threatened to unravel at different moments. A chaotic 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in January raised fresh questions about Arsenal’s mentality, while back-to-back April losses to Bournemouth and Manchester City nearly handed control of the title race back to Pep Guardiola’s side. There was also disappointment in cup competitions, including a defeat to Manchester City in the EFL Cup final and an FA Cup quarter-final exit to Southampton.
But unlike previous Arsenal sides, Arteta’s team recovered. The Gunners closed the season with ruthless discipline, grinding out key straight wins against Newcastle, Fulham, West Ham and Burnley to finally end the club’s 22-year wait for a league title. Much of that success was built on the league’s best defence, led by William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães and David Raya. At the same time, goals and attacking contributions came from across the team, from the defence to the attack. It really was a team effort.
The Celebration Continues
Attention now shifts to Arsenal’s final Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace on Sunday, 24 May, where the club will officially lift the trophy before turning focus to the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, 30 May.
The Open View window for the UEFA Champions League final begins on Monday, 25 May, giving DStv Yanga customers access to SS Football Finals (DStv Channel 202) and SS Football (DStv Channel 205). GOtv Jolli customers will also enjoy similar access and will be able to watch the final live on SS Football (GOtv Channel 61).
Live studio build-up for the final begins at 3:30 p.m. ahead of kick-off at 5:00 p.m., as Arsenal attempt to crown their title-winning season with European glory.
As part of the wider celebration for football fans, DStv will open select Premier League fixtures to customers this Sunday, including Crystal Palace vs Arsenal, Manchester City vs Aston Villa, Liverpool vs Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton.
Following Arsenal’s first Premier League title win in over two decades, DStv will open select SuperSport channels ahead of the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, giving more football fans in Nigeria access to Arsenal’s bid for European glory.
The special Open View window will begin on Monday, May 25, for DStv Yanga customers on SS Football Finals (DStv channel 202) and SS Football (DStv channel 205). This will also extend to GOtv Jolli customers, who will be able to follow the action live on SS Football (GOtv Channel 61).
In the lead-up to the final, the channels will air classic UEFA Champions League matches, along with standout games featuring Arsenal and PSG.
Live studio coverage on Saturday, 30 May, will begin at 3:30 pm ahead of kick-off at 5 pm.
Speaking on the Open View window, Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, a CANAL+ company, Kemi Omotosho, said the gesture reflects the excitement surrounding Arsenal’s triumph and the significance of the final for football fans.
“Arsenal’s return to the summit of English football has sparked massive excitement among supporters in Nigeria, which is home to one of the club’s largest fan communities globally. As anticipation builds around a possible European triumph, this is our way of celebrating with customers while giving more fans the opportunity to be part of what could be another historic night,” she said.
The North London club was confirmed champions after Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday, ending Arsenal’s 22-year wait for a Premier League title. The Gunners will now turn their attention to PSG, as they look to cap off the season with European glory.
As part of the wider celebration for football fans, DStv will on Sunday, May 24, open select Premier League fixtures to customers, including Crystal Palace vs Arsenal, Manchester City vs Aston Villa, Liverpool vs Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton.
From the pre-match build-up to the final whistle and trophy presentation, viewers can expect comprehensive coverage of the UEFA Champions League final live on SuperSport.
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