Ex-international, Segun Odegbami has advocated for the return of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium) to Oyo State Government to enhance its revenue generation.
He made the call on Wednesday during the Best Ogedegbe Memorial Lecture held at Government College Hall in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State Chapter in conjunction with Best Ogedegbe family.
NAN reports that the late Ogedegbe manned the goal post for Nigeria’s senior national soccer team, then known as the Green Eagles, when they won the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 1980.
The legendary goalkeeper died on Sept. 28, 2009 at the age of 55, following an eye surgery which made him fell into coma.
Odegbami called on Gov. Seyi Makinde to secure the return of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium to Oyo State Government towards converting it into the home of the biggest football club in Africa.
“Let the stadium be converted into the home of the biggest football club in Africa at a time. The club that represents the movement of the Yoruba people that is located in Ibadan which is called Shooting Stars, not 3SC then.
“Name the stadium Shooting Stars International Stadium. Let that stadium generate revenue and social engagement. Let the club become the best football club in Africa,” he said.
Odegbami, who decried the degradation in the sports sector, said the need to get the right people who have experience and qualification to take charge of the sector.
“We need to get the right people. Those who have done it. Those who have experienced it. Those who have the qualifications, who have experience not politicians to man our sports.
“Politicians have erroneously misinformed government all over this country that government does not need to spend money on sports,” Odegbami lamented.
