* Pitch is okay – Contractor
By Ebiowei Lawal
Samson Siasia Stadium
YENAGOA-Member of the CAF Medical Committee, Dr. Peter Singabele, has said that he was quoted out of context as he never said the continental football body declared the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, unfit for international matches.
Dr. Singabele, who spoke to journalists on Friday, said he needed to make the clarification because of the way his comments were skewed out of context.
The renowned football administrator had said during the draws and kits presentation ceremony of the second Governor Seriake Dickson Football Tournament on Wednesday in Yenagoa that the Samson Siasia Stadium would require some basic facilities for it to be approved by CAF.
“I spoke in my personal capacity. I never said the Samson Siasia Stadium pitch failed CAF test. When was the inspection done?
“I just can’t understand where the report came from. It is to me an embarrassment. But that only shows how desperate some people can be when they are out for mischief,” he said.
He further stated that he only drew the attention of the state governor, who was present at the event, to some of the basic requirements that were yet to be completed at the stadium.
He said he is aware that work was ongoing on the dressing rooms but that other facilities like the electronic scoreboard and floodlights were also yet to be installed.
“What I did was to use the opportunity of the governor’s presence to point out the need for these facilities to be installed if the stadium is to get approval for CAF sanctioned or international matches.
“Unfortunately, my comment was not correctly reported in the media. CAF has not carried out any inspection on the stadium as no Bayelsa team is representing Nigeria in the continent. But personally, I’m satisfied with the playing turf and the quality of work done,” he said.
Also, the contractor handling the project, Mr. Ebi Egbe, has said the pitch had no defects that could make it unplayable during the rains.
Egbe, in a press release, said what was reported was not a true reflection of what the CAF Medical Committee member said at the ceremony.
“I was present at the event. Dr. Singabele did not write off the playing turf as being insinuated by mischief makers.
“That the pitch was slightly waterlogged during a heavy downpour does not mean we did a poor job. We have since identified where the problem came from and addressing it.
“For anybody to say CAF has written off the place is outright mischief and sheer blackmail. CAF did not come to Yenagoa to inspect the stadium because no Bayelsa team is playing in the continent. NNL officials came and were impressed with what they saw,” Egbe said.
