Dozi Mmobuosi unveils 1472 FC as new Lagos based National League club

By Wale Mustapha

Popular techpreneur billionaire, Dozy Mmobousi has launched a new football club to be called 1472 FC and will participate in the upcoming Nigeria National League, NNL season.

Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the new club, Dr. Segun Sanni disclosed at the unveiling ceremony held in Lagos on Saturday that the club will be based in Surulere axis of Nigeria’s commercial capital.

Dr. Sanni noted the owner of the club intend to use it as a platform to further engage youths in football and entertainment.

He revealed that the club will be playing its home league matches at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan pending the completion of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

“We will be playing our home matches at the Onikan Stadium but will return to Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere which is our base,” said Sanni.

On the choice of club name, 1472 FC, Sanni explained that it was coined from the year when Portuguese explorer Rui de Sequeira landed in Lagos and named the area near city, Lagos or Lago de Curamo, meaning Lake of Curamo.

“We’ve named the club so because a Portuguese explorer gave Lagos that name that year and we feel it is fitting to do so,” he said.

The CEO stated that a feeder team has also been floated while plans are in place to have the women’s team for the club while the academy aspect of the team will be established in January, 2024.

Influential personalities in Surulere including Actor turned Politician and Lagos House of Assembly member, Honourable Desmond Elliott, Honourable Abiodun Orekoya and Surulere local government chairman, Sulaiman Bamidele Yusuf offered their supports for the take-off of 1472 FC.

Elliot said: “It is a good time to have a football club in 1472 FC in Surulere. From inception we have been involved with the plan and it is good to see it come to reality. The club will be ran professionally from management to players.”

Orekoya said the vision to set the club up in Surulere is good as the town is “home of football in Nigeria.”

“Surulere is the home of football in Nigeria and I am glad that you are bringing that back now with this club. I want this to become the best club in Nigeria in the nearest future. These gentlemen have a good vision as it concerns the formation of this club,” Orekoya said.

Yusuf said: “I am happy to see this happen during my administration. This is the sports city and it has two stadia recognized by FIFA. Football is not a small business, it is big and 1472 FC has come to stay and will open the doors for others to follow in other communities.”