Sports
Lagos National Stadium Tracks Installation Commences
…Facility to be Ready before End of 2022
Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government’s bid to restore the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos to its old glory has received a major boost with the commencement of the installation of the tartan tracks last week.
A top official of Kyle Next, one of the contractors handling the rehabilitation of the edifice confirmed the laying of the tracks has commenced and could be completed in four weeks with the newly installed facility in place.
Track technical specialist Joseph Ayinla of Ideal Sports, a sports facilities installation and management company, revealed that the tracks will be laid in stages.
“The first stage that we commenced last week is the Elastic layer(E-layer)stage which will be followed with the Sealant stage to make the tracks impermeable to water and other fluids. The third stage will be the coating stage.
“After all these have been done, a certified World Athletics tracks marker will then do the markings. There will be a 9 lane running track and the strip for jumps, which is for long and triple jumps,” disclosed Ayinla, who was part of the team that laid the last tracks at the stadium in 1998, twenty four years ago and has been involved in the laying of such facilities in some other top class arena in Nigeria and beyond.
Already, there has been the installation of a digital scoreboard and a revamping of the football pitch of the stadium by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development through the Public-Private Partnership(PPP) arrangement and the Adopt a Pitch initiative put in place by the Sports Minister Sunday Dare.
On the rehabilitation of the terraces, the Minister confirmed that progress is being made in sourcing the funds needed for the project.
He said, “Our Adopt a Pitch arrangement with Premier Lotto for the Lagos National Stadium covers the pitch, tracks and scoreboard and that is on course. We are also making progress in sourcing the funds to fix the terraces.”
Only last week, work began on the regrassing of the pitch of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium(formerly called Liberty Stadium)in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The other highpoint of the sport infrastructure development drive of the Federal Government in the last three years has been the restoration of the playing turf of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja after many years of neglect.
Sports
Vipers VC celebrate captain Esther Mbah on birthday
Cyril Ogar
Vipers Volleyball Club have felicitated with their captain, Esther Mbah on the occasion of her birthday.
In a statement signed by the Vipers VC Team Manager, Suraj Abiodun Jabar; the club described Mbah as a leader who has consistently demonstrated excellence both on and off the court.
The statement also praised the Nigerian international for her valuable contributions to the club.
The statement mentioned her role in guiding Vipers to a second-place finish at the 2026 CAVB Zone 3 Club Championship in Ghana.
It read: “The management of Vipers Volleyball Club wants to celebrate Esther Mbah on the occasion of her birthday.
“She has been an asset to Vipers since joining the club, demonstrating outstanding commitment, dedication and leadership.
“Her contributions to the growth and success of the team have been invaluable.
“We appreciate her efforts, professionalism and the positive influence she continues to have on her teammates. We wish her more successful years ahead, good health and greater achievements.”
The club concluded its birthday message by wishing the experienced player continued success as she leads the team towards achieving more honours.
Beyond her achievements at club level, Mbah won a bronze medal for Nigeria at the 2024 African Games in Ghana, further establishing herself as one of the country’s accomplished volleyball players.
She has also secured qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, adding another milestone to her growing career.
In their separate messages, board members of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, James Datuhun and Chinedu Onikeku (OLY) as well as Coordinator of Vipers VC, Samuel Onikeku wished the Nigeria international a glamorous birthday.
They hailed Esther Mbah for exhibiting a high level of leadership trait since joining the team.
The stakeholders prayed for good health and ultimately success as she prepares for the Beach Volleyball event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
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