FIFA tips Gateway Stadium for Nigeria 2009

By Tosin Omojola - 13.07.2008

Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) would have no choice than to pick the Gateway International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, as one of the venues to play host to matches of the FIFA U-17 Championship billed to be staged in Nigeria next year.

This was the submission of the body's representative in Nigeria, Heinze Matrozke while speaking at a press briefing on the laying of synthetic pitch at the stadium held inside its media centre. According to Matrozke, the Gateway Stadium will definitely wear a new look by the time the laying of the synthetic pitch was concluded which will give the FIFA inspection team due in the country in October no other option than to give the hosting nod to the stadium.

"Ogun State is followiing FIFA’s plan that synthetic pitches be laid in various stadia to give room for uniformity and to also afford teams equal opportunity of playing on the same surface and this no doubt, makes the state the leader in that regard because while others will try to do it, Ogun State had already done it," aid the FIFA representative.

He also commended Governor Gbenga Daniel for showing much commitment towards developing the game of football, stressing that, with laying of the synthetic pitches at both the M.K.O Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, and the Gateway International stadium, Ijebu-Ode, the governor was laying foundation for the future.

Speaking at the programme, permanent secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Jide Oyenuga, said the state decided to embark on the laudable project in order to demonstrate its readiness to host matches of the FIFA U-17 Championship slated for Nigeria in 2009.

"We promised that by September the synthetic pitch would be ready, but with what we have on ground now, it would be ready earlier than we thought because the laying would commence anytime from now,” he said.