The management of Kwara United Football Club has faulted Adepoju Tóbi Samuel’s comments on the pitch of the Rashidi Yekini Main-Bowl of the George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex, observing that the remarks undermine NPFL integrity.
The club, in a release signed by the Chairman, Kumbi Titiloye, strongly criticised recent comments made by Sports Commentator Adepoju Tóbi Samuel, who publicly described the Kwara State Stadium pitch as substandard.
Adepoju Tóbi Samuel is the Sporting Director of Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, Oyo State.
His remarks, according to Titiloye, were unfortunate, unprofessional, and capable of bringing the game into disrepute, especially at a time when the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is working to build credibility around its club licensing and stadium approval processes.
“I am surprised that the critic singled out a facility that has hosted several NPFL, NNL, Nationwide League, FA Cup, and international youth matches this season without any formal complaint from match commissioners, referees, or teams.
According to them, Adepoju Tóbi Samuel’s comments “do not reflect the true condition of the pitch” and “amount to undermining the integrity of the NPFL board,” which approved the stadium after meeting technical and safety benchmarks.
“Stadium approvals are not issued casually, but through inspections carried out by certified professionals, whose assessments align with CAF and FIFA facility standards.
“The remarks by Adepoju Tóbi Samuel, who occupies a sensitive position in a respected club like Shooting Stars Sports Club were “reckless and unnecessary. Sensational criticism without evidence only fuels negativity and distracts from genuine infrastructural challenges in Nigerian football.
“Constructive criticism is welcomed. What we cannot accept is commentary that deliberately casts aspersions on a stadium that has met league requirements and successfully hosted competitions throughout the season,” he said.
“I took time to go through the footage of the Match to verify his claims, and found out that one of the players stepped on the ball while on motion, while the other one had contact with our player, which is the common feature in the game of football. Moreso, our players played in the same pitch with them” Titiloye averred.
Kwara State Stadium remains one of the most frequently used and most stable grounds in the country, known for maintaining a playable surface even during tight fixture schedules.
“Remember also, that Niger Tornadoes has played here, we have played many teams here this season, and equally, Katsina United played Enyimba here on Monday, and non of them talked about the pitch. Katsina United Coach, Audu Azeez praised the pitch after their encounter with Enyimba FC.
“Anyone with concerns should channel them through proper football structures instead of making public statements that can mislead fans, embarrass institutions, and paint the league in a poor light. We must focus on promoting the league’s progress rather than amplifying narratives that weaken confidence in domestic football administration” Titiloye concluded.
