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Grassroots football in Kwara hit hard as stadium rent more than doubles to ₦350,000
By Dayo Awoniyi
Grassroots football in Kwara State is facing a major setback following a sharp increase in the rental fee for the state-owned Rashidi Yekini Stadium Mainbowl, raising concerns about access and affordability for local clubs.
The Kwara State Sports Commission, led by Executive Chairman Coach Bola Magaji, has reportedly raised the stadium’s usage fee from ₦150,000 to ₦350,000—a more than 130 percent increase.
The hike comes in the wake of recent renovations to the George Innih Stadium, part of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s broader push to revamp the state’s sports infrastructure.
While the upgrade has modernized the iconic facility, critics say the new pricing structure threatens to alienate the grassroots teams it was meant to serve.
One of the immediate casualties is House of Prayer FC (HOP), currently competing in the Nigeria U19 Youth League Cup. The club’s General Manager, Taiwo Olowe, said efforts to secure a fee waiver or reduction from the Sports Commission were unsuccessful.
According to local reports, Magaji responded to the club’s plea by suggesting they “go look for grassroots pitches to play their football”—a comment that has since sparked widespread discontent among the football community in Ilorin and beyond.
“It’s heartbreaking,” one local coach said. “We talk about developing youth football, but how do you develop it when young players can’t even afford to play in decent facilities?”
The development has ignited a broader debate over the future of community football in Kwara. Many argue that the policy risks deepening inequality in access to sports facilities and undermining talent development at the grassroots level.
Supporters of the rent increase, however, defend it as necessary to sustain the stadium’s maintenance post-renovation. They argue that the facility’s upgrade comes with higher running costs that need to be recouped.
Still, many observers warn that pricing out youth teams could have long-term consequences for sports development in the state.
As frustration grows, stakeholders are calling on the Kwara State Government to introduce a tiered fee system that allows community-based teams to use the facility without facing financial ruin.
Until such reforms are made, the fear remains that football in Kwara could become a game for those who can afford it—not for those with talent.
