Buruj Sports Academy is turning years of grassroots football success into an ambitious infrastructure project, unveiling a proposed stadium development in Ikorodu, Lagos State, aimed at transforming opportunities for young Nigerian footballers.

The academy, founded by Dr. Waheed Salaudeen, has presented a new development layout featuring a standard 105m × 68m football pitch, spectator stand, changing rooms, administrative and first-aid facilities, toilets, parking spaces and perimeter security.

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The project represents a significant step toward establishing a permanent home for the academy’s growing football development programme.

Buruj’s ambitions are backed by its record of nurturing promising talents, including former Nigeria Under-15 internationals Raheem Moyinoluwa Salaudeen and Fawas Ayomide Adeleke, who represented Nigeria in youth competitions in Morocco and Algeria.

The academy has also facilitated opportunities for players in Spain and Lithuania, while six Buruj youngsters recently earned selection for an international football exposure programme following the Italian Consulate General U-20 Tournament.

Unlike its earlier three-acre, 5,000-seat stadium concept, the latest architectural proposal adopts a more practical, phased approach, beginning with an approximately 80–100-seat stand and essential football facilities. Punch Newspapers +1

Dr. Salaudeen, who serves as founder and Chief Executive Officer, has consistently championed football development alongside education.

“This dream is bigger than Buruj Sports Academy alone. We are appealing to private individuals, corporate organizations, investors, and well-meaning Nigerians to support this vision.”

His appeal reflects a determination to build a sustainable sporting institution capable of serving generations of young Nigerians. Sports247 Nigeria +1

For potential investors, the project offers opportunities in stadium naming rights, facility sponsorship, youth development partnerships, football tournaments and community sports programmes.

With a survey document and proposed layout now presented, Buruj is inviting partners to help turn its vision into reality, subject to necessary technical assessments and development approvals.

From discovering football stars to building the infrastructure that produces them, Buruj Sports Academy is no longer simply dreaming of the future — it is preparing to build it.

For Tikitaka FC right winger Boluwatife Kehinde, football is more than a game; it is a childhood passion he continues to pursue while building an identity outside the pitch through fashion design.

Kehinde, who joined Tikitaka FC about six to seven months ago, has experienced both good and difficult moments at the club, describing football as an activity he continues to enjoy despite the demands that come with the sport.

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The winger identified sponsorship as one of the challenges facing his football journey, highlighting a concern that can affect players seeking opportunities to develop their careers and compete at a higher level.

Although he is still relatively new to Tikitaka FC, Kehinde has previously featured for several teams, including Remo FC and Shiny Star, alongside other sides during his playing career. His experience across different teams reflects his continued involvement in football over the years.

Away from the pitch, Kehinde works as a fashion designer , offering him another avenue to develop his skills beyond the game. However, football remains his central sporting passion, and he says he is willing to devote time to pursuing it.

His experience at Tikitaka FC has not been without tiring moments, and his plans for the future remain open as he continues to settle into the team.

For Kehinde, the immediate task is to keep working and make the most of his football journey while navigating the challenges that come with the sport. With more time at the club, his performances and development could help shape the next stage of his career.

His story reflects the reality of a player balancing sporting ambition with life beyond football, as he continues to pursue the game that has held his interest since childhood.