Ahead of their matchday 12 fixture against Giant Brillars on Friday, May 13, 2022, Vandrezzer FC are yet again left with more frustrations in Lagos.
The Lions have faced series of challenges since moving it base from Akwa Ibom to Lagos State in January 2021.
The club relocated to Nigeria’s most populous state following a strain in relationship with the Akwa Ibom State government, with the club siting a ‘strategic business plan to further position the club as a global football brand’, the main reason behind the move.
Since moving to Lagos, Vandrezzer FC played the 2021 Nigeria National League (NNL) at the Soccer Temple in Agege but were banished to the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere for the 2022 season.
Midway through the season, the Lions announced that they will play their home matches at the national stadium behind closed doors with no fans allowed into the stadium due to the ongoing reconstruction work at the Teslim Balogun Stadium by the Lagos State Government.
The statement on the club’s website read in part: “The Management of Vandrezzer FC regrets to announce that our home matches would now be played behind closed doors and the live broadcast of our matches has been suspended.
“This decision was necessitated due to the commencement of reconstruction work being undertaken at our home ground – Teslim Balogun Stadium by the Lagos State Government.
“Though the ongoing reconstruction of Teslim Balogun Stadium does not presently affect the pitch of play, it does not provide the right ambiance for a live broadcast and may highlight the stadium in its current unflattering state thus negatively impacting the image of the league.
“Furthermore, for the safety of our fans and visitors, and to avoid exposure to possible injuries that may result due to the ongoing reconstruction within the Stadium, we have resolved to play our next home match behind closed doors.”
This move will also affect the club economically. Vandrezzer FC generates income from their pay-per-view broadcasting of live matches to thousands of fans and revenue from their matchday ticket sales with premium entertainment to VIP supporters.
The club says it will refund ticket sales and online subscription to the fans.
“In view of the above, the club would immediately make a refund to all our fans, visitors, and online subscribers who have made payments to access our home games in person or via our online platform, VFCTV.”
Vandrezzer FC will take on Giant Brillars of Enugu in the first game of the resumption of the NNL on Friday by 4pm.
They club ended the first stanza of the season in 6th with 14 points from 11 matches, winning three times and also losing three times.
The Teslim Balogun is home to five different clubs this season, and has not felt like home to the Lions all season even with fans in the stadium.
Head Coach Makinwa understands the importance of fans in the stadium but says his team will be ready tactically for the game.
“Everybody would like to see the stadium like a fiesta,” Makinwa told VFCTV.
“We like people coming to cheer you up to victory, your fans and everybody, but this is going to be a different ball game because nobody is going to be in the stadium, that in quote has destroyed the stadium, but that will be just before the start, once the game kicks off, the whole scenario goes into our tactical preparations and that’s where we want to take the lead.”
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