The Chief Coach of Sunshine Stars, Gbenga Ogunbote, has described as barbaric the behaviour of Kwara United fans during the last weekend’s ill fated Nigeria Premier League match in Ilorin.
In a telephone interview with The Eagle Online, Ogunbote said that divine grace averted what could have been a tragic event in Ilorin on Saturday.
“I have never seen people so barbaric like Ilorin fans on Saturday. One of our players, Ukeyima Akombo escaped death by a whisker because he was to be hit on the head with iron rod but miraculously his attacker missed target. At the end of the day, nine of my players were injured,” he said.
The former handler of Gateway United narrated further that security operatives did their best to curtail the irate fans but it seemed “it was a pre planned attack.”
Ogunbote admonished the NPL to ensure adequate security at all match venues to avert a repeat of the ugly incident in Ilorin.
It is recalled that NPL, following the incident, banished Kwara United to Abuja, with a fine of N2 million as well as deduction of three goals and three points from the club’s accumulated points.
In a related development, the suspended Team manager of Sunshine Stars, Gabriel Aborowa, stormed the Abuja secretariat of the Nigeria Premier League on Monday to plead his innocence.
Aborowa reportedly ran into the field of play, alleging that he was hit with a missile from the crowd.