“THE evil that men do lives after them; the good is often interred in their bones”. These insightful words were spoken by Marc Anthony in Shakespeare Julius Caesar. This quote often comes to my mind whenever I see hooligans disrupting the little gains we have recorded in our domestic league.
Much has been written either for or against our league in the past but the negative aspect outweighs the positive. It got to a stage when people no longer show interest in our league. Sponsors too were hard to come by despite attempt s by administrators to put things right.
The story seems to have changed in the last two seasons with teams recording an away win. Something that is unheard of because it has always been that of the highest bidder and survival of the fittest. The implication is that teams without fat pockets bear the brunt with our men in black going home with Millions. Thus, teams like Warri Wolves, Jigawa Golden Stars, Dakjada, etc find it difficult to cope. The bulk of the blame rests on the shoulders of the referees who are the chief culprits backed by club managers. Thus, referees who fail to “ perform” are subjected to the beaten of their lives as dictated by the club manager after parting with money. The win at home by all means has its own implications as people no longer show interest. Results are predictable. With that, sponsors too withdrew their support as they have nothing to show for their hard earned money.
However, that seems to change as clubs now win in places which can be regarded as lion’s den. Who would have thought that Katsina United would lose in Katsina? Who would have thought that Elkanemi Warriors would lose in Maiduguri or Shooting Stars in Ibadan? What of Kano where it is an abomination for Kano Pillars to surrender a point not to talk of losing. Who would have dreamt that Rivers United can fall before their vociferous fans? Is it because the dreaded Bright Ogude is no more to spear head the onslaught. What can you say of Benin City where Bendel Insurance reign supreme? It is an open secret that no team goes to the venues mentioned without having a gory story to tell.
Surprisingly last week, teams recorded away wins and the fans in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Katsina and Port Harcourt took it as part of the new order for any team can win at home or away but not for Benin and Jos fans. They would not want to hear anything of such. It is either their teams win or you have yourself to blame. Those fans whom we thought are now born again descended heavily on their opponents while the referees had their own too, reminiscent of the dark days. And that reminds me of when Bendel Insurance slugged it out with Lobi Stars some years ago at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. We were all held hostage until Insurance scored the “ required” goals to keep them afloat in the league. That action took place in the presence of the late moving train, Oyiku Obaseki. The two teams who had left the stadium were made to come back after hearing the results of other centers to complete the assignment.
Last week in Benin, Kano Pillars were awarded a 98th minute penalty in what has been described as a harsh defeat and this was too much for the fans to swallow. In Jos, Plateau United fans disliked the word draw not to talk of losing. Rangers International FC players and officials were lucky to be alive. Some of them only sustained injuries.
What next? The League Management as usual have come out with sanctions on Bendel Insurance and Plateau United. Both clubs have been asked to pay some millions and to play their next three home matches behind close doors. Both were accused of not controlling their supporters who threw objects towards the pitch leading to players and match officials sustaining injuries. They were also accused of not providing adequate and effective security.
Often, we have argued it out that the State Football Association should be penalised for the sin of not providing adequate security. They are fully in charge and should be held responsible when matters go wrong.
The league management should extend the sanctions to club managers who act behind the scenes. Without the managers, no club fan will act in a negative way. These boys get paid for doing such odd jobs like harassment of match officials and opponents.
To further curb violence, the league management should ban sales of alcohol and India hemp known as Igbo in local parlance. A visit to some stadia will reveal this. They can send undercover law enforcement agents to observe proceedings at match venues and summon club managers to address this or have their venue banned.
