The management of Shooting Stars Sports Club has attributed the current state of the pitch at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, to the dry season, stressing that they have begun work to revamp it.
This was in the wake of the notice served to the club by the Nigeria Premier Football League board, marking the pitch as unsuitable to host matches.
In response to the notice, the club highlighted their efforts to make the pitch TV-friendly.
In recent weeks, deliberate measures have already been implemented to improve the quality of the turf, including intensified pitch maintenance, grass treatment, levelling, and regular watering,” the club said in a statement on Saturday.
“It is important to note that the current dry season and harsh weather conditions have significantly affected the playing surface, a challenge we have been actively managing. Despite these conditions, work on the pitch has been ongoing to ensure steady improvement and long-term sustainability.
“Shooting Stars SC remains fully committed to providing a safe, professional, and broadcast-friendly playing environment that reflects the club’s history and status in Nigerian football.”
Shooting Stars were scheduled to face league leaders Rivers United in a matchday 24 game on Sunday (today), but the game has been postponed due to the away side’s engagement in the CAF Champions League.
They have been asked to pick between the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta and the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, for their subsequent home games, but it remains to be seen if the NPFL board will let them remain in Ibadan.
The former champions are currently sixth in the 2025/26 season with 35 points after 23 matches.
NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, had described the state of the pitch as ‘embarrassing’ while featuring on a radio show earlier in the week.
The poor state of the pitch has also forced the Nigeria Football Federation to change the venue of next week’s U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match between the Falconets and their counterparts from Senegal to the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.
