Good pitches needed for NPFL matches, says Ogunbote

Lagos - Gbenga Ogunbote, the newly-appointed Coach of Sharks FC of Port Harcourt, has urged the facility managers of league stadiums across the country to ensure that their pitches are well-maintained, for league matches.

Ogunbote  on Tuesday in Lagos said that a well maintained turf would ensure fluency in the flow of the game and make matches more interesting. 

 “I am impressed with the facility on ground in Port Harcourt and the one in Abia, which shows that the managers are doing their jobs.

“Other stadium managers should emulate what they are doing and strive to even get better than them,’’ Ogunbote said. He added that all the clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) had ample time to put their pitches in good condition, before the season kicked-off on March 9.

 “The season did not kick-off when it was supposed to, which I believed must have given them enough time to prepare very well, before the commencement,’’ the coach said. On the issue of having accurate match data from matches, the former Sunshine Stars FC of Akure coach charged the League Management Committee (LMC) to be up and doing.

 “They should ensure that accurate and easily accessible match records are kept in their data bank, for public consumption. 

 “Having such critical records in place will also aid the LMC to monitor on a weekly basis the level of performance of the NPFL clubs,’’ he added. (NAN)