Federation Cup Matches: Ogunjobi Decries Spectatorship Decline

The Chairman of the Osun State Football Association (OSFA), Taiwo Ogunjobi, has bemoaned the lack of spectators at match venues in the country, saying the development is robbing the game of its glamour.

Ogunjobi told newsmen in Lagos that the recent Federation Cup elimination matches were devoid of the usual excitement associated with the competition.

He noted that the Challenge Cup of old was a more interesting competition to be part of because of the quality of play, drama, spectatorship and publicity that usually accompanied each edition.

“During our time, we had more people coming out to watch our matches, people loved the way we played and then the likes of Enugu Rangers, ICC, WNCC and Bendel Insurance were the rave.

“We had lots of followership in those days, nowadays when you get to the stadium it is usually half full, you may even think it was a training exercise that was going on, the difference is just too much.

“In our time Challenge Cup was a big deal but in recent times it has lost is glory and then all clubs want to win at all cost, so it was highly competitive in our days,’’ he said.

The former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association’s (NFA) Technical Committee, implored the current crop of footballers in the country to work hard at their game.