Stakeholders berate Gov.Lalong for poor state of New Jos Stadium as Herders,farmers occupy facility

By Our Sports Desk

The Plateau State government under the leadership of Bar. Simon Lalong, has again received bashing from sports stakeholders for its inability to manage the ultra modern Zaria road Stadium. The iconic edifice is begging for attention and have been taken over by Herders and farmers that are grazing and farming at the facility.

Eagle Eye Watch reports that the stadium is in shambles as most of the facilities are in a dilapidated condition while the perimeter-fencing has crumbled and with the rainy season the edifice which hosted the ill-fated CAF Champions League match between host Plateau United against Simba FC of Tanzania in which the Tin City boys were eliminated on home soil have become a haven for herders and farmers.

Commenting on the development, a sports enthusiast Emeka Madu who spoke to our reporter lambasted the state governor Simon Bako Lalong for his lackadaisical approach over the decay of the only iconic sports edifice of international standard in the state.

In his words:” I am really surprise by the way and manner the curent APC administration in Plateau State has allowed public property to dwindled. Journalist, I mean its pathetic or is it that those in authority are not aware of this issue”.

On his part a die-hard football fan, Istifanus  Azi  also blasted the state government for its act of mismanagement of the stadium despite series of calls by sports lovers in the state for its upgrade.

“I have been a regular fan to this stadium and it seems to me that  the state governor is not interested in football or sports at all. I know that if it is in other advance clime the Sports Commissioner or Stadium Manager would have lost their jobs

I urge the state governor Barr.Simon Lalong to fasttract the development of the stadium before it further degenerate or collapse ”.

Although as at press time our reporter couldn’t reach the Stadium Manager for comments while the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Victor Lapang had declined our formal invitation for a press interview on several occasions.

Eagle Eye Watch recalls that when Plateau Utd FC won the Nigerian Professional Football league title in 2017, they were confined to play their CAF champions league home matches outside the state because the Confederation of African Football(CAF) couldn’t clear the New Jos Stadium fit to host football matches, and it affected the performance of the team.

The stadium has been neglected in the last 32 years of its existence.Although the previous administration led by the Ex-Governor Jonah David Jang was instrumental to the upgrade of the30,000 capacity stadium to its present position much needs to be done to see to its final completion.