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SWAN wants Ogun Sports Commissioner banned

Afolabi Afuape, Ogun Commissioner for Youth and Sports.

Afolabi Afuape, Ogun Commissioner for Youth and Sports.

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has said that a ban from sports be placed on the Ogun Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Afolabi Afuape, for unsportsmanlike behaviour.

The association’s President, Honour Sirawo, who made the call on Monday in Ilorin, said it became necessary because the commissioner ordered Gateway United FC not play their last Nigeria National League (NNL) Group B match on Sunday.

Gateway United was to end the 2015/2016 league with its Match Day 14 encounter against Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC on Sunday in Ilorin.

The match, however, could not hold as it was alleged that the commissioner prevented the Gateway United players from honouring the match, citing security reasons.

Sirawo, who made the call while speaking with newsmen on the refusal of Gateway United to play on Sunday, said the commissioner’s action must be properly investigated.

“And if he is found wanting, he should be banned from all sports-related activities in the country for years,’’ he said.

Sirawo said he was in Ilorin to watch the match because of its sensitive nature to Nigerians as any winner would make it to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

“There are laws guiding every action we take, and on Sunday the law of football was invoked in Ilorin.

“On technical grounds, ABS FC has won the match.

“From what I heard about the intervention of the board members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), it was the action of the Ogun commissioner that led to the embarrassment we witnessed on Sunday.

“We are going to make a strong statement on it and this act of indiscipline should be checked so that Nigerian football fans can get what we desire,” he said.

“We are making efforts to develop football and no individual will be allowed to derail the plan for the development.

“Anyone found wanting should be banned so that it will serve as a deterrent to others.

“The commissioner asked Gateway players not to play, he has no such power,” Sirawo said.

The SWAN president commended the NFF board members present at the Kwara Stadium Complex to monitor the match.

NAN reports that the referee after 30 minutes of wait awarded three goals and three points to ABS FC after formalising the walk-over.

Having won the game, ABS FC thus gained promotion to the NPFL for the 2016/2017 league.

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