Ikorodu Utd picks MKO Stadium as new home ground

Ikorodu United has shelved the idea of returning to the Onikan Stadium, Lagos, for its remaining home games in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) this season and has opted to remain at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

The Lagos club was sanctioned by the League Management Company (LMC), for crowd trouble in one of its recent home matches against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and was directed to play its next three home matches in Abeokuta with the last two suspended provided the team’s supporters show an improvement in their behaviour during and after games.

However, Ikorodu United in a letter to the LMC defended its decision to remain in Abeokuta for the rest of the season.

The Oga Boys stated in their letter to the LMC to approve the MKO Abiola Stadium as their home for the rest of the season on the grounds that “the unruly fans” who disrupted their game against 3SC are unknown to them.

“We will not be able to guarantee the full control of the crowd and general safety at the Onikan Stadium as the unruly fans at the Onikan Stadium are not known to us and neither can they be identified should there be any form of fracas,” the club’s general manager, Dele Gbajumo, wrote to the LMC.

The LMC has granted the request of Ikorodu United and directed them to work with the Ogun State Football Association on matchday security and crowd control.

Ikorodu United has won just four matches this season to occupy 19th position with 22 points. Two of those wins were recorded away from their Onikan Stadium home.

Last weekend, Ikorodu United won its first game of the NPFL second round by defeating Niger Tornadoes 1-0 through Adeshina Oduntan’s dying minute’s goal at the MKO Stadium.