*Constitutes a 5-man Committee to interface with Kwara Sports Commission
The Congress of the Kwara State Football Association has frowned at the high cost of hiring the Rashidi Yekini Main-Bowl of the George Agbazika Innih Stadium, even as they called for downward review of same, to save the sport in the state.
The call was contained in an 11-point communique drawn by the Congress after its deliberation on Monday, held at the Football House, Ilorin.
The communique was signed by a five-man committee, headed by the Vice Chairman of the FA, Bashorun Kayode Bankole. Others are Chief Salaudeen Jimoh, Professor M. T. Ajadi, Mr. Azeez Bello, while Kashim Mohammed Agaka served as the Secretary.
The Congress deliberated on the state of football development and strategic priorities for the 2026 season, constituted a five-man Committee to inter-face with the Kwara State Sports Commission, on the need to review the cost of Stadium hire, which they observe, is killing grassroots football.
They observed further, that the facility is absolutely for aiding development and a Corporate Social Responsibility to the sport.
The Congress Kwara State Football Association (KSFA), under the Chairmanship of Mallam Idris Abdullahi Musa (Thuraya), commended the state Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the Kwara State House of Assembly, for supporting football development, and for also sponsoring stakeholders to the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
They commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for appointing it’s Chairman, Alhaji Idris Abdullahi Musa Thuraya to represent the North Central in the review of its Statutes.
Congress equally called for the proper registration of referees and coaches from the grassroots, and for the Local Football Councils to ensure badged referees and registered coaches are allowed to handle matches, and to also ensure proper monitoring. The Congress commended Edu Local Football Council Chairman, Mallam Malik Manzuma, for his role in grassroots football development.
Mallam Manzuma, who is the Dan Buram of Lafiagi was at the last Congress, adjudged as the Best Football Council Chairman in Kwara state.
The Congress approved for the selection of the 2nd Vice Chairman on the Executive Committee of the Kwara State Football Association, and on the registration for Federation Cup, which is very low, the Congress charged the Football Councils to educate the teams in their various domains of the importance of playing the competition, which is a premier competition. They were charged to mobilize teams at the grassroots to participate.
They call for serious awareness at the grassroots, for the development of female football participation.
The Congress reiterated it’s resolve to continue with the three years tenure for Local Football Councils, reminding them that the next Election will come up in June this year. They were charged to begin to prepare ahead of the Extra-Ordinary Congress that will hold before the elections.
The Chairman, Alhaji Idris Abdullahi Musa Thuraya hinted at the various moves and interventions being made to support the growth of the round leather game from the grassroots, especially facilities. The Congress hailed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for supporting the renovation and upgrading of Offa and Lafiagi Stadiums, and Senator Sadiq Umar, for supporting the upgrading of Akerebiata Wembley.
It was observed that some Local Football Councils are not active enough, and that that is practically limiting the state’s football development strength, and also commended a member of the State FA Exco, Coach Tunde Sanni Saliu, for leading Kwara United Football Club to win its first Federation Cup trophy since the creation of the state. The FA was also praised for playing a vital role in the attainment of the success.
