Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, says the playing turf of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos can now host any grade A match.

Adepoju and some other sports stakeholders took a tour of the stadium and other sports facilities being constructed by the Lagos State government yesterday amidst rain.

Speaking with journalists, Adepoju, popularly known as ‘Headmaster,’ said: “It is heartwarming for me to see the pitch of Teslim Balogun Stadium in this beautiful manner. I never thought the pitch of a stadium in Nigeria would ever get this beautiful green playing turf, and I want to say that it can host the Super Eagles and any Grade A football match in the world.”

Adepoju praised the Chief Executive Officer of Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Ltd, Lare Adeleke and his team of engineers for the quality job at the stadium, just as he commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for giving Teslim Balogun Stadium such a ‘big facelift.’

The contractor, Adeleke, revealed that the pitch would be ready to host any big match soon, saying that the turf still needs one more layer. “The grass here at Teslim Balogun Stadium is one month younger than the one at Warri City Stadium. As we speak, the pitch in Warri is ready for play. This one still needs one more layer to be fully ready for play because we don’t want to hand over a poor job.”

Adeleke added that in the past, many state governors and sports administrators emphasised “building just a stadium without paying attention to the quality of the playing pitch, which is a key component in preparing our nation for international matches.

“To achieve victories in modern football goes beyond studying opponents and players. The players and their coaches have to understand the playing surface, including ball speed and rebound, acceleration and others. We brought in some of the engineers that laid the pitches in Côte d’Ivoire to work with us, and the result is what we are seeing now.”

Some other places visited during the tour yesterday, include a newly completed stadium at Gbagada, a community base complex with artificial turf for easy maintenance, and the Agege Stadium.

Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Ltd has also completed a similar project in Ketu, Ikorodu, Agege, Epe and Badagry.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of Lagos Sports Commission, Hassan Jamiu, has explained that the Lagos State government decided to build more stadiums in various local councils to engage the youths in meaningful activities.