A pitch manufacturing expert from Nigeria, Ebi Egbe (aka Moni Love) has received strong backing from an England-based players’ representative, Kelly Ozegbe, who advocating more support and national recognition for the man he believes can make his country rank among the current world leaders in churning out quality football turfs.
Megasportsarena.com gathered that, in the wake of a declaration by Nigeria’s League Management Company that only 13 pitches have been certified to host matches of this season’s top-flight league in the country, Ozegbe noted that almost half of the total number were constructed or renovated by Egbe’s company.
He added that two of the standout arena, Enyimba International Stadium in Aba and Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba are of high quality and standard that can compete with other football grounds anywhere in Europe or the Americas.
The England-based agent, who was a former footballer during his youth days in Ajegunle area of Lagos, added that the CEO of Monimichelle Sport also played a huge role in ensuring proper upgrading and a lift in standard for Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina and Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Ozegbe spoke against the backdrop of reports that Enyimba’s ground, which is arguably the leading pitch constructed by Egbe’s company, and 12 other stadiums across the country have been certified by the LMC to have met minimum requirements to host matches.
The certification by the LMC is part of the club licensing regime for the upcoming season, but 11 other stadiums, mostly those that have not receive the attention of Egbe’s team of pitch laying and maintenance experts, were recommended for varying degrees of upgrade and repair works before they can be certified for the coming season.
A memo from the LMC to the NPFL clubs read in part, “In line with the CAF Circular of July 26, 2020 on stadium infrastructure among others, which was forwarded to you and the need to meet up with the requirements of high quality television production by our new partners, the LMC has reviewed various reports submitted on the state of our stadia across the country.”
However, Ozegbe disclosed that he is very much impressed that all of Egbe’s pitches and stadia received the pass mark, which the right-full-back turned showbusiness impresario in England stressed is another hefty scorecard in recognition of the renowned civil engineer.
Incidentally, Egbe recently became a member of United Kingdom’s Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG), which was founded in 1934, and he was officially recognized by the body that promotes, supports and celebrates sports surfaces and services.
IOG, which is the leading not-for-profit organization that represents professional and volunteer groundsmen and women, also recognized Egbe’s outfit as Africa’s leading stadium construction outfit and becoming a member of the institute will propel him to do more for Nigeria and Africa in the quest to eradicate bad pitches.
Ozegbe stated: “This man is not a politician and doesn’t belong to any political party. His good intentions towards the development of sports infrastructure and events across Nigeria and Africa in general is something I admire.
“I hope that the Nigerian ministry of sports is aware of this patriotic Nigerian. A patriotic man like this is someone the government should be ready to work along with in creating more job opportunities and developing the grassroots sporting sector.
“I pray that God will continue to guide and strengthen him. I also pray that he will be able to continue the good work he is doing to improve the sporting sector in Nigeria. The youths of Nigeria need him and the time is now for him to be officially recognized by the Nigerian government. God will continue blessing you, Moni Love.”
