"We Have Engaged New Grass Consultant" - Dare Assures Moshood Abiola Stadium Pitch Would Be Restored

"We Have Engaged New Grass Consultant" - Dare Assures Moshood Abiola Stadium Pitch Would Be Restored 

By Niyi Busari

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has assured that a new grass consultant would be engaged in order to restore the pitch of the Moshood Abiola Stadium to its excellent state.

This assurance was contained in a congratulatory message sent to Super Eagles after 10-0 demolition of São Tomé and Príncipe in their second group A 2023 African Nations Cup qualifier in Morocco on Monday.

Dare however use the opportunity to assure the team that their home ground, the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja will be restored to an excellent state before their next AFCON qualifier in September.

"We, as a Ministry, take the responsibility for the state of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja when you played against Sierra Leone.

"The excitement of having the stadium back to life led to a few issues like the over use and the infestation by a specie of termites and bugs.

"We have engaged a new grass consultant and got a hold of these issues and in a few weeks, the pitch will be back in the excellent shape it was before the World Cup qualifier against Ghana last March.

"Every other thing like the water sprinklers, digital scoreboards, Media Centre, Conference rooms, change rooms, medical centre are fully functional and we will have the training pitches 100% ready as well.

"We will continue to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to sports and also thank Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his contributions in helping us restore the glory of the stadium from the farmland that it was then to what it is today," Dare concluded.