The League Management Company (LMC) has turned down the request of Ondo State-owned Sunshine Stars to return to the Akure Township Stadium for its home matches for the rest of the 2021/22 campaign.
In its response to the club, the LMC recognized the level of work done by the Owena Whales to renovate the changing rooms for the two teams as well as that of the Match Officials but noted that replacing the playing turf is of utmost importance.
Sunshine Stars to remain in Ijebu Ode as appeal to return to traditional home ground Akure has been rejected by the LMC.#NPFL22 pic.twitter.com/NWZmnvDW7n
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“We are delighted with the amount of work done as you reported on the dressing rooms – home, away, and match officials. And also repairs of sections of the perimeter fence. We also note that Ondo State Government has started the process of approval for the total refurbishment and upgrade of the Stadium”, reads the LMC letter signed by Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer.
In continuation of the letter; “However, we refer you to our letter once again and reiterate that the primary concern is for the synthetic pitch to be replaced having been completely damaged by overuse.
“You will also recall that we received a firm commitment from your Honourable Commissioner of Sports that the pitch will be replaced last year which made us grant conditional approval for Sunshine Stars to use the stadium for last season.
“We are therefore unable to grant your request for clearance to play Sunshine Stars matches at Akure until the synthetic pitch is replaced”.
Consequently, Sunshine Stars will continue to play their home games at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode.
