How night football is changing social, business environments

Football, regarded as the king of sports by many enthusiasts, is a passionate game with a huge following across the country. Spotlighted as a veritable leisure for achieving peace and unity, the round leather game is evolving into a lucrative business and a tool for social re-engineering in Kwara State and Abuja. In some highbrow […]

Football, regarded as the king of sports by many enthusiasts, is a passionate game with a huge following across the country.

Spotlighted as a veritable leisure for achieving peace and unity, the round leather game is evolving into a lucrative business and a tool for social re-engineering in Kwara State and Abuja.

In some highbrow neighbourhoods and schools, mini football pitches named after the famous Maracana stadium in Brazil are springing up in Ilọrin, connecting the elites, professionals and the masses. 

From the medical laboratory scientists, to doctors, bankers, lawyers, lecturers, businessmen and PhD holders among other disciplines, night football is changing social cohesion and bonding across Ilọrin metropolis.

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In places like Adewole, University of Ilorin Gate, Tanke, Asa Dam, GRA, Fate and Zango among several others under construction, the sight of exotics cars parked behind these designated mini soccer fields surrounded with nets, distinguish it from other relaxation spots.

While the huge net ensures the ball does not go out from the enclosed field, its well-lit environment is illuminating and changing the night life of their areas.

Marriages and other social ceremonies including workplace relations are getting spiced up through the initiative.

One of the organisers, Abdullahi Mohamed, who is the leader of Imam FC, domiciled at Adewole area, near NNPC filling station, said he first experienced this kind of nightlife in Kano State.

“Together with the owner of the pitch, we want to replicate our Kano experience in Kwara State,” the medical scientist said.

Among the advantages that many of the participants listed is that apart from the day, you can play at night which is a different and exciting experience for footballers and those who love the game.

They said before now, the busy ones among them who love football and playing it for fun had difficulty finding a place like this to enjoy their passion. But all that has changed with the mini soccer fields as they come back home late and still find time to play football, describing such opportunity as one of its biggest attractions.

As a tool for social change, it was gathered that people come from as far as Amoyo, Ganmo, Asa Dam and Alagbado, among others areas, to unwind and enjoy the sporting atmosphere and camaraderie on display.

The initiative has gone beyond just football to a place to network, mingle and cement relations, weddings and other social events are taking a new trend now in Ilọrin with matches now organised between brides and grooms’ families a day or two to the event.

Also, some of the mini pitches across the metropolis attract corporate participation from the banking and other corporate sectors whose staff have formed official teams to play with colleagues from other establishments as a social platform and a place to exercise, out of the long hours they spend in the office environment.

Apart from the social and health benefit as a form of exercise and fraternity, the initiative is financially rewarding.

With an estimated budget of about N10 million depending on the location of the land, most of the spendings are expended on the synthetic pitch, net to enclose the arena, generator, floodlights, metal bars and employment of security guards.

According to Abdullahi Mohammed, “About 20 of us came here today and payment per slot for a game of 90 minutes ranged between N700 and N1,000. Before now, there were around seven pitches scattered across Ilorin but right now, the number is growing.

“On a good week, we can have up to 28 teams and you can imagine how many people that amounts to, with some having 20 players per team.”

From past 4pm, depending on their official schedule, players are already heading towards these facilities in their various locations. Sometimes by 5pm, the place is filled up and spectators may find it difficult to get a sitting position from some of the makeshift structures constructed for such purposes.

Although matches are stopped around 9pm, circumstances like New Year eve can stretch games past 12am. Organisers say as long as somebody wants to book, the place is always open once you can easily find your way home after games.

While checks by Weekend Trust showed that many of the facilities are located in places where security will not be out of reach, tertiary institutions and relatively secure neighbourhoods, there are extra measures by organizers and stakeholders to ensure that their personal and collective security is not breached.

“We don’t just allow anybody to join. When people come, it’s binding on the organiser of the team to ensure that he vouches for them. The management doesn’t want riffraffs or trouble makers to be part of the team or find their way here. So, it’s binding on the team owners or organisers to ensure players are people of good conduct and reputation.

“I know the houses of 90 percent of the people in my team despite only getting to know them within the last one year. You can’t just come here and barge in and play with us, no. We organise ourselves from our WhatsApp group, everybody knows what team they belong to and nobody can come out of the blues to play and cause issues for us. And so far, this kind of community checks may explain why we’ve never had any security challenge and a violence-free engagement for over a year now,” Mohammed disclosed.

With a vibrant football culture in Ilorin attracting people in their 40s and 50s, the trend has been identified as a good business prospect and investment for corporate and government entities. Although insiders say it may be a bit expensive to start off, profit is almost guaranteed with minimal expenses on running costs for fuel, balls and the maintenance of the artificial pitches, among others.

“For instance, our team plays like three times a week which is about 12 times a month and there are about 30 teams that play here. Moreover, it can be sited anywhere that space is available, devoid of sandy and rocky fields we are used to. It’s a very nice investment and a very good avenue for the state government to consider.

Mr Sheye Morohundiya, a businessman and member of one of the teams said the facility provides opportunities to play with friends and peers in a very relax atmosphere.

“This kind of facility actually curbs the street kind of playing we are all used to while growing up and enables a kind of community where you mingle with people that are actually well-to-do and have passion for society development. It gives room for interaction and safe playing. It eradicates thuggery and you can see there is nothing like smoking or drinking of any sorts. It’s growing as a good business option for residents.

“Going out at this time of the day to play for about two hours, to have fun, entertain, and mingle with people shouldn’t affect your normal routine at home. It gives a kind of a planning mindset,” he said.

Moroundiya, who said he had represented the state in Chess in the past, noted that the initiative had provided him with a more profitable alternative than going to the stadium.

“Then, I used to go to the stadium regularly but now with business and family commitments, the stadium location is no longer convenient except occasionally. When you’re here and playing with elites, that should serve as a source of inspiration.

Abduraheem Abubakar, a former aspiring footballer whose professional career was cut short because of lack of financial support and parental encouragement, said before now, many people in Ilọrin and other parts of Kwara State don’t have access to this kind of facility where people play under the floodlight at night.

He encouraged investors to explore the opportunity. 

The number of people actually playing football is more than the professional footballers we have. If you go to the stadium on Sunday, you will see a huge number of people who went there for fun and passion.

“I’m playing football for fun and I have to buy kits and boots worth N50,000. So, spending around N1,500 on some days regularly can be a huge business opportunity for owners of facilities like this.”

He said coaches and football administrators can make these facilities a good scouting ground for talented footballers.

A food vendor, Mrs Ola Abdul, who sells softs drink and water at one of the venues in Adewole, said it has provided her with additional income to augment her family expenses.

In Abuja, many soccer lovers have embraced the new sporting trend. In places like Monoliza in Central Business District; Zone 1 Paintball Garden; Gwarinpa; among others, there’s a strong thriving community of night football lovers.

Austin Uquang says, “I like playing ball at night because I don’t get tired easily. Also, I have a lot of work to do during the day, so night time is my only free time. Playing at night feels more exciting than playing in the afternoon.”

Jitmiya, a student, also speaks on why he prefers to play football in the evenings.

“I like playing football at night because there are fewer distractions and less noise which allows me to focus better when I’m playing. I also like to play ball at night because more friends are available to play after school so we just organise with them and we all go together once we’re done with lectures and school work. Also, the night time atmosphere feels more relaxed and fun,” he said.

Elijah John, a civil servant, said he is involved in the night sport as a way of being involved in his community. “It’s good to be involved in some type of community activity to give yourself a sense of belonging and it’s also an avenue to get some sort of exercise done daily.

“You come back from work, depending on the type of work, and then sit down all day without any form of exercise. So, playing football after work is my own form of exercise. When you play well, you will wake up feeling refreshed.”

Another fan who preferred to be anonymous says asides the cool weather, he plays football at night as a form of relaxation after a tedious day. “I use it as my leisure and relaxation time. Whenever I come back home, I just come and play ball to ease my mind from the day’s activities.”

Christian, a Gwarinpa resident who lives around 69 Road, says he prefers playing football at night because of the weather.

“I like the cool weather in the evening. Normally, we start by six and end by nine. Besides having fun while playing at night, the environment is really conducive to play, more than when you’re playing in the afternoon. I prefer to play five-a-side football which is the in-thing for most night football games. Also, I like the lightings of the pitch. Once it’s 7pm, they turn the lights on and it illuminates the pitch and makes it look really nice. It’s a spectacular view which gives a different experience while playing on the field.

“But in the afternoon, because of the harsh weather especially now that everywhere is really hot, it would be tiring to play in that condition. And lastly, spectators who come at night to watch the game also boost your confidence while playing. Their cheers and encouragement give you the energy you need to play on. It’s an interesting feeling that can’t be compared to playing under the hot sun in the afternoon.”

Pius agrees that there is a clear difference between playing at night and in the day time.

“There is a big difference between afternoon football and evening football. Firstly, the weather is the main reason because the afternoons are very hot, but in the evening, you have a very nice, preferable weather. Secondly, is the availability of players because most people would have closed from work and are readily available compared to the afternoon when they are occupied with their work and daily activities.

“It’s also a great avenue to meet up and socialise with people in your community. These days, we are all engaged with our various activities and forget about our neighbours. For me, this is a great way to meet and greet with neighbours and friends in our community. It’s a good bonding activity.”

Little Tamko, manager of Mab global estate, Karsana, says players who use the pitch pay N1,000 each and if a team wants to make use of the pitch, he collects about N15,000 to N20,000, which varies from time to time.

He said “Players come to play throughout the week but the days I receive a lot of customers are Mondays and Fridays.

“Most times, the estate’s academy here makes use of this pitch on Saturday mornings for trainings. Coaches come to train the kids and when they’re done, the adults will play from about 11am till 1pm.”

He also stated that he partners with some food and drink vendors who players patronise after playing.