Tunde Sanni
27 August 2009
Ibadan — Moved by the pitiable condition of the once green turf of the Olubadan Stadium, legal luminary, Afe Babalola (SAN) has begun a process of returning the stadium to its pre-eminent moment.
The legal icon at the final of the Babalola Champions League final in Ibadan lamented the poor state of the stadium and its degeneration into a brown dust pitch.
THISDAY visit to the stadium revealed that the former lush green turf has been overwhelmed by brown dust while players sustain several injuries on it each time they play.
Chief Babalola recalled the days of Teslim 'Thunder' Balogun, Dejo Fayemi, Kunle Awesu, Muda Lawal etc when the pitch's lush green was attractive to good display of soccer artistry.
"I am ashamed and disappointed to see Olubadan Stadium in this horrible state and called on well meaning citizen of Ibadan to come and salvage the monumental edifice if government is not showing seriousness towards its repair.
"This stadium used to be attractive. I recalled those days when even the lush green and the good display of soccer artistry were all that used to attract us to the stadium, Then we would sneak out to watch our heroes in action but regretfully, that has now given way to desert," observed the pained football enthusiast.
Instantly, the legal chief announced a N5million donation and assured that he would personally ensure that his friends supported him for the regrassing of the pitch and to return the stadium to its pristine class.
He charged Ibadan indigenes and other football giants who rose to soccer heights from the turf to come to the aid of the stadium and bail it out from its present decay.
"This stadium is a legacy to many people who grew up in Ibadan. It is a legacy for the multitudes who through playing soccer here were identified and rose to the heights of their playing career."
He tasked the 11 local councils in Ibadan to rise and lift the stadium from its present state of shambles.
Chief Babalola charged that the stadium should have been ready for good matches again by next year August and raised a committee comprising of old players of the Ibadan soccer outfit, 3SC including Felix Owolabi, Friday Christopher, Mutiu Adepoju, Joseph Ladipo, Idowu Otubunsin and Femi Okenla of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).
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