In the shimmering sunlight, the one cuts a sad picture of neglect, disorderliness, and decay, which is evident from the main entrance; while the other, though lacking the grandeur of its neighbour at inception, is the exact opposite.
Officially opened in 1972 by the then military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the National Stadium is the older of the two by a whopping 35-year margin. With a seating capacity of 45,000 in 1973, it was the main venue for the second All-Africa Games and the scene of many memorable international sport events in the last three decades. They included the 1980 African Cup of Nations, which Nigeria won exactly 20 years after it gained independence from Britain; as well as the 2000 edition of the competition that was jointly hosted with neighbouring Ghana.
Ironically, for many Nigerians, the National Stadium is a constant reminder of some of the most tragic events in the history of sports in Nigeria. For example, it was the scene where about 25 fans were trampled to death during a stampede caused by an unexpected power outage more than two decades ago. More than a dozen people were said to have sustained serious injuries in the process.
Super Eagles midfielder, Sam Okwaraji, whose bust lies conspicuously outside the stadium, slumped and died during a World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Angola, in the full view of his fellow countrymen, in 1989.
Had he been alive till this day, it is doubtful that Okwaraji would take a look at the National Stadium complex and beat his chest with pride. A glance at the complex shows just how much it has deteriorated in the last few years. Now totally stripped of its glory, UNKEMPT is perhaps the best word to describe its present condition.
“I can’t imagine that this was the same stadium I knew as a boy,” a man tells S&S during a visit to the stadium on Sunday.
The man continues, “Each time I remember what it used to be, I want to cry. As a boy, I have watched many important and exciting football matches in this place. I can’t even count on the tips of my fingers the number of great footballers and athletes that I have seen in action here.
“There was hardly a weekend that my friends and I didn’t spend at the stadium. In those days, you would come and find a lot of people training here. Everywhere used to be so neat and tidy; you would not find even a piece of paper lying around. Now the whole place is littered with refuse.”
Indeed, the National Stadium is not only littered with refuse, especially at weekends, but it also has broken-down facilities in various stages of decay. With the presence of some open bars and restaurants, where loud music is peddled as part of the menu, it is obvious that the complex is gradually transforming into a glorified ‘mammy’ market.
In addition to the preceding shortcomings, not a single tap runs at the National Stadium. As a matter of fact, the entire complex has not enjoyed electricity since 2002 when Mark Aku, then Sports Minister died.
However, no day passes without some kind of activity taking place in the premises. On the last visit, S&S sighted a number of youths gliding around on roller skates. At the same time, another group was busy at the basketball courts, while a game of football was in progress in one of the training pitches adjoining the main bowl.
Yet, the main bowl has for awhile remained unutilised for any sporting event. As a result, nobody, except the security personnel and officials of the stadium, has access to the football pitch and other facilities within.
“The management of the stadium ordered that it should be locked up. It is because some people have been coming here to steal. They stole some air-conditioners and other things,” a security man says.
A youth idling around on one of the basketball courts says, “I learnt that some repairs were being carried out inside the main bowl. Maybe that is the reason why they locked it.”
Interestingly, a similar situation exists at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, which is owned by the Lagos State Government.
Named after the late soccer legend, Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, whose exploits on the pitch earned him a place among Nigeria’s folk heroes, the stadium was built as part of government’s efforts to develop sports in the state. It was opened in 2007.
It took the cumulative impact of government efforts, spread over 23 years, to complete the stadium. With the capacity to seat nearly 25,000 spectators, Teslim Balogun Stadium is smaller than the National Stadium. But considering the present circumstances, it is clearly the stadium of the future.
At the entrance to the stadium, a security man in a green uniform politely turns down a request to be allowed access to the main bowl. Shaking his head, the man says, “Nobody is allowed to enter unless a football match is going to be played.”
While the managers of the National Stadium may be excused for locking up the main bowl for obvious reasons, the same cannot be said for the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/
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