•Insurance coverage gamers behaved like touts – Remo coach
•NNL vows to punish offenders
Edo Insurance coverage defender Benjamin Tanimu, who suffered a head harm after irate followers attacked the guests throughout their Nigeria Nationwide League tie towards Remo Stars in Ikenne, Ogun State, on Sunday, says they’re fortunate to be alive after violence erupted throughout their league fixture, The PUNCH stories.
Bother started after Insurance coverage goalkeeper, Kolawole Oladapo, obtained injured within the 96th minute, with Remo about to take a nook kick, however the hosts felt the keeper feigned harm to waste time.
Insurance coverage defender Sarki Ismail was despatched off after being handed a second yellow card for selecting up the keeper’s gloves. However an announcement by Remo Stars mentioned Ismail refused to depart the pitch after his expulsion.
In a video, which went viral on social media, followers encroached the pitch and chased Insurance coverage gamers out of the stadium.
The helpless gamers ran previous their workforce bus and jumped the stadium fence because the followers saved pelting them with stones and planks.
“The one factor on our thoughts was attending to security after followers encroached the pitch and began chasing us,” Tanimu advised The PUNCH.
“We have been chased out of the pitch by the followers and gamers. I used to be about to leap a fence after I obtained hit on the pinnacle by an enormous stone. After we thought we have been protected, the followers chased us once more till we discovered ourselves in a farm however I’m completely happy to be alive after the ordeal,” Tanimu added.
Insurance coverage secretary, Charles Ihimekpen, reportedly misplaced consciousness after a fan hit him on the pinnacle with an object.
“I consider I’m very fortunate to be alive,” Ihimekpen advised The PUNCH.
“They (followers) wished to hit our participant on the pinnacle, even when he was already down. So, I coated him and was hit on the pinnacle and the again, which was how I obtained injured. The very last thing I keep in mind was coming into the membership automobile. Once I grew to become acutely aware, I used to be on the resort and receiving remedy,” the previous Insurance coverage participant mentioned.
Nevertheless, Remo Stars coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, berated the Insurance coverage gamers and officers for instigating the violence.
“Insurance coverage have proven that they’re all touts, together with lots of their gamers and officers as a result of I can not think about why they resorted to violence. One in all their gamers was red-carded just for him to refuse to depart the pitch,” Ogunmodede advised The PUNCH.
“We needed to name our CSO to assist us persuade him to depart in order that we may proceed with the sport, however as a substitute of leaving, he slapped our CSO.
“Insurance coverage should not worthy of enjoying within the NNL to not speak of the NPFL if that is how they earn their factors.”
In the meantime, Chief Working Officer, NNL, Emmanuel Adesanya, mentioned the league physique would be certain that all perpetrators of the violence are delivered to justice.
He mentioned, “The administration will meet to debate the violence at Remo venue and two different locations the place there have been ugly incidents. The administration will meet and deliberate and make a pronouncement.
“We had stories of ugly incidents within the recreation involving Calabar Rovers and someplace within the North, and we’re wanting into them. Any occasion discovered responsible might be punished in accordance with the foundations and laws guiding the NNL.
“What we did yesterday (Sunday), as quickly because the stories have been flying in, was to ask the match officers and commissioners to ship of their stories as a result of there have been damaged heads, smashed noses and autos destroyed. I advised them that it was solely their spontaneous and fast stories that may assist us to take quick actions so that it’s going to not be dragged on for too lengthy. However Nigerians might be relaxation assured that the violence is not going to go unpunished as a result of in the event that they go unpunished it is going to be sending a fallacious sign about Nigerians and the league itself. Nobody is above the legislation.”
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This materials, and different digital content material on this web site, might not be reproduced, printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in entire or partially with out prior categorical written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
