FIFA certified Sports Facilities expert and Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Company, Ebi Egbe, has sounded a note of warning to various State Governors not to be carried away by the green surface of football pitches.

“Every pitch may look green from the stands, but not every green surface meets the standard required for elite football,” Egbe told The Guardian.

Egbe’s message came a few days after Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori condemned some part of works currently going on at Warri City Stadium and praised the pitch.

“It is only the end users like the players, coaches, and match officials who can truly judge whether a pitch is good or not,” Egbe said. “Administrators are not end users, they can only judge from appearance. Take a look at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Lekan Salami Stadium, and Stephen Keshi Stadium. At different points, all presented visually appealing green 100 percent natural pitches after construction or renovation. On the surface, they looked ready.

“But football is not played on appearance. Over time, these pitches have struggled with sustainability, poor drainage, inconsistent grass coverage, rapid wear under usage, and inability to support the speed and intensity of modern football.

“The consequence is evident: today, none of these facilities can reliably host top level CAF competitions. This is the core issue, construction is being mistaken for performance,” he stated.

Egbe continues: “A pitch is not judged on commissioning day; it is judged months and years later under match pressure. If it cannot maintain quality consistently, then the “green” was only cosmetic. Until we shift focus from how a pitch looks to how it performs and endures, we will keep building stadiums that impress visually but fail functionally,” the certified hybrid pitch technician added.

Meanwhile, Egbe has disclosed that Fabrication of 30 meter floodlight masts to hold 1500LUX Lighting system for HDTV is currently in full progress at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium project site in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“This phase is critical to achieving broadcast grade illumination standards, ensuring uniform light distribution across the pitch and track, and meeting FIFA/CAF requirements for HDTV night matches.

“The structural integrity, alignment precision, and electrical integration of these masts will directly impact lighting performance and long-term reliability.

“Once completed, the installation will significantly enhance matchday experience, player visibility, and overall stadium safety positioning the stadium to elite competition standards for international games.”