Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, Prince Adeshina Araoye has opined football as the best way to revive tourism in Nigeria.
The resort, who are owners of the Nationwide League One (NLO) club, Ilaji FC are excited that the team can success in the domestic league can drive tourism having started the season on a brilliant note and placing second behind Abray Sports FC with 3points in Group C2 and scored a total number of 12 goals,
“Today we are all excited for the team as that they have been fantastic this season and with the programme on ground, we are certain they will keep up with the momentum, then achieving the target.”
Araoye who started the team with players scouted for Ilaji FC from the Onara Ilaji Sports Festival, confirmed that the club’ strategy was right going forward.
“The exceptional players you see in the team and many talked about today, were raw talents picked from the Festival and they form the bedrock of the team. Kudos to our excellent technical crew, who were able to mold them to what they are now.
“Right now we have Boluwatife as the top scorer of the Nationwide League One (NLO), so we are confident that the team can gain promotion to the Nigerian National League (NNL) at the end of the season. Also some of our players are good enough to earn an invite to the current under age national teams.”
On why the management of Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort opted for a stadium, Araoye said: “After starting with Ona-Ara Sports Festival and for us to put together players who are going to wear the colours of Ilaji FC, we needed facilities for them and the basic was to have a certified playing turf for them.
“Not just a playing field but to have stands for fans and that’s why we have a stadium. As a matter of fact, we don’t just have a stadium. At a point also we wanted to host mini football tournaments, and we have a stadium for this purpose.
“We want the Ilaji Resort to be a place, where you have all the facilities you want, including accommodation, restaurant, gym and certified spaces for outdoor sports. This is geared towards one living in a home away from home, as obtainable in other parts of the world.”
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