Suspended Grounds: Seven Clubs Settle For New Homes As LMC Awaits Nasarawa, Giwa

In compliance with the recent directive by the League Management Company (LMC) on the state of their playing turf, Abia Warriors of Umuahia and Heartland FC of Owerri have elected to play their home games at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba while they carry out necessary rehabilitation work on at their respective grounds. Five other clubs, Akwa United, FC Taraba, Wikki Tourists, El-Kanemi Warriors and FC IfeanyiUbah have also communicated their alternative venues to the LMC as at close of business on Monday, June 15.

For Akwa United, their home games henceforth will be played at the new Akwa Ibom International Stadium christened the Nest of Champions. The club wrote to inform the LMC that they have now secured approval from the state government to use the facility.

FC IfeanyiUbah also wrote to request the LMC approval to play their home fixtures for the next three months at the Rojenny Stadium in Oba, near Onitsha while extensive renovation is carried out at their Beverly Hotels Stadium in Nnewi. The LMC has promptly inspected the stadium to confirm its suitability since it was not among the alternative venues initially inspected and listed.

FC Taraba are now to play at the Aper Aku Stadium pending the completion of repairs at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo while El-Kanemi wrote to inform the LMC that they have decided on either of Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano or the Karkanda Stadium in Katsina State and are awaiting the state government's nod to settle on any of the two. Wikki Tourists also communicated their decision to play at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe and have commenced repair works on the issues with their artificial turf failure.

Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar said while the other affected clubs, Nasarawa FC and Giwa FC are expected to turn in their preferred alternative ground by Wednesday, some of the Match Day 12 fixtures has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 18. He warned that clubs that fail to provide alternative venues within deadline stand the risk of being allocated a new venue by the LMC.

The rescheduled games are in Kano between Pillars and Giwa FC, Sunshine Stars versus Warri Wolves in Akure and FC Taraba versus Wikki Tourists in Makurdi.