Skip to main content

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.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...
Post a Comment
Read more