9th February, 2012
Hundred of grassroots clubs that are preparing for this year’s Lagos FA Cup may not take part in the championship.
Recently, the Lagos State Football Association announced that any grassroots club that want to play in this year’s Lagos FA Cup must pay N50, 000 for affiliation fee and N35,000 for registration fee, making a total of N85,000.
Also professional clubs are expected to pay the sum of N135,000 for the FA Cup including N35,000 for registration fee and N100,000 for affiliation fee.
Some of the clubs who had paid for the affiliation fee will only pay the sum of N35, 000 for registration fee to participate in the state challenge cup.
Many coaches and club owners who spoke with GSG expressed shock over the Lagos FA decision, lamenting that most of the grassroots clubs lack sponsor to pay such fees.
Chief coach of Rocky Stars Football Club, Samson Ogunsanya, said this is not the time Lagos FA should be demanding for such amount of money from amateur clubs.
He said if the Lagos FA fail to rescind its decision, more than hundred clubs may be denied the opportunity to play in this year’s Lagos FA Cup.
“There is no way many grassroots clubs will get such amount of money. We do not say they should not collect affiliation fee but they need to reduce it for clubs to register for the Lagos FA Cup,” he said.
Tosban FC Boss,Bankole Omosehin, urged the Lagos FA to consider the state of the clubs by reducing the fees in the interest of the game.
He said it will not be good for the sport in the state if many grassroots clubs leave Lagos and register in other states like Ogun, Oyo and Osun States for the Challenge Cup.
Rising Stars coach, Lateef Ishola, stated that his team cannot play in the Lagos FA Cup because they don’t have sponsor that can help them pay the fees.
“My team won’t play in Lagos FA Cup this year. Where can I get N50, 000 for affiliation fee? We are planning to play in another state where the fees will be less than what they are demanding from us here,” he said.
—Sunday Akintoye