Ex-football players in Ogun State on Sunday bemoaned the deplorable condition of Late Super Eagles midfield maestro, Mudashiru Babatunde Lawal’s Stadium in Asero, Abeokuta where a number of football stars have played in the past.
The ex-footballers under the umbrella of All Stars Football Club, Asero branch equally expressed displeasure over the state of sport activities in the State, which they described as “dead.”
The President, All stars football club, Asero branch, Salmon Akinbo expressed this view when the executive members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun state chapter paid a visit to the association of former players.
Akinbo who described the stadium as ‘iconic pitch’ which has produced football stars expressed regret that the state government has abandoned the stadium to be taken over by weeds and reptiles.
“Muda Lawal stadium is an iconic pitch that has produced many football icons. Government in the state has continued to pay lip service to renovation of the stadium.
“The poor state of the stadium is worrisome, even the cleaning of the pitch has been put in our custody. Attention has been given to MKO Abiola stadium at Kuto, but this is where football kicked off in Ogun state.
“We attempted to seek private support to uplift the stadium, but we are handicapped because we have limited resources.
“We are also afraid because we have been informed that the state government wants to sell or concession the stadium to a private company. The emphasis here is to resuscitate this stadium not to sell,” he said.
Responding, the SWAN Chairman, Alhaji Hakeem Akintunde commended the veteran footballers for keeping the legacy of late Mudashiru Lawal alive.
Akintunde assured the ex-soccer stars of SWAN’s support at all times.
