Idowu Boys FC Of Orile-Iganmu Beg Gaskiya College Principal: Please Let Us Train On Your School’s Pitch

Idowu Boys FC of Orile-Iganmu players, coaches, officials and fans have sent a deeply emotional and solemn appeal to the Principal of Gaskiya College, Ijora, Lagos to allow the team resume training at the school’s playground.

Sports247 gathered that the appeal has become imperative because the club is scheduled to resume full activities on Monday, but they currently lack a base where they can train.

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Coach of the side, Sunday Odetayo disclosed that the team used to train at the school, which produced former Super Eagles’ winger, Emmanuel Amuneke and many other Nigerian football legends, but the primcipal suddenly stopped them when least expected.

Odetayo pointed out that the highly resourceful club, which was established by late Coach Idowu Matti, also used to train at White Sand Field near Orile-Iganmu, but that site has since been converted into parking space for petrol tankers.

He revealed further in a chat with Sports247: “Currently, we don’t have anywhere to train, and our plans for 2026 are not certain … but we can’t afford to disband this club.

“This club is the only structure that serves as a befitting memorial of our late coach, Idowu Matti, who was murdered along with one of his players on a night he went out to arrange a match for us.

“So, we are using this medium to earnestly appeal to the principal of Gaskiya College to kindly allow us resume training in the school this year. We promise to be law abiding and keep the place neat all the time.”

Odetayo, who played for the club alongside other former youngsters like Jamiu Olaitan, Joshua Osuya, Ademola Iyanda, Godstime Onuador, and their captain, Harrison Enyashi, thanked one of the school’s teachers for giving his team a listening ear.

“We are currently receiving some help through one of the top teachers in the school, Mr Babasheun Ojo. He has given us hope that the principal will allow us to resume there on January 5th, which is this Monday,” Odetayo enthused.

On his part, the club’s current captain, Kola Ilsesanmi, called on former players of the team at home and abroad to rally round in support of the mission to ensure that Idowu Boys FC does not die.

Ilesanmi used the opportunity of a memorial match staged in honour of their late coach, Idowu Matti, to reach out to their past players in search of a way forward.

The match, which took place at Landpark Field, Coker-Orile, was organised by one of their former players, Ebere Goodluck, who is now based in the United States of America.

He brought together several of his foreign-based colleagues to play as ‘Ebere & Friends’ against his former clubmates, who featured as Idowu Boys All Stars.

Dramatically, the home-based players won the match 3-1, and Ilsesanmi, who now works as a realtor and estate agent, said it was proof that Idowu Boys FC is still a formidable team.

“I am happy with this gathering, but it must not end here. We have to come together to ensure that this club does not die. We will have a meeting with our former players from home and abroad to see how we can move Idowu Boys FC forward,” said Ilessnmi.

The versatile defender, who can play anywhere in the back-four and was a key member of Vejle Football Academy, when the team was captained by former Super Eagles’ striker, Anthony Nwakaeme, expressed hope for good news soon.

He further told Sports247 that he will work together with other captains of the team – Omobolaji Yusuf (Baggio) and Chima Obieje – to urge their seniors and former club members to help in keeping Idowu Boys alive.