The opening game of the Nigeria Professional Football League
(NPFL) between Kano Pillars and FC Ifeanyiubah at the Sani Abacha
Stadium in Kano on Saturday did not finish.
Kano
Pillars were leading by a goal through Gambo Mohammed’s first half
strike before players of FC Ifeanyiubah refused to continue the game
owing to a refereeing decision by Foluso Ajayi.
Six former Enyimba
players, Chinedu Udoji, Abdulrasak Aliyu, Kamal Sikiru, Emmanuel
Anyanwu, Bala Zakka and Idris Aloma were named by Kano Pillars head
coach Kadiri Ikhana in his team’s startlist.
Ghana trainer, Yaw
Preko, named former Kano Pillars man Prince Aggreh in his side with
Super Eagles goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa handed the armband after it was
initial announced during the week that Olamilekan Aniyikaye would be FC
Ifeanyiubah’s captain for the season.
Brazilian midfielder,
Alberico da Silva and power-playing striker Ifeanyi Onuigbo could only
get places on the FC Ifeanyiubah bench.
It was FC Ifeanyiubah that
began the match sharper with Ngoma Luamba, Tamen Medrano, King Osanga
and Aggreh combining well in the middle.
The dispute began just
before the break when the match referee Ajayi signalled for an FC
Ifeanyiubah free kick close to Pillars’ goal.
Just as Aggreh took
the free kick to put FC Ifeanyiubah level at 1-1, Ajayi blew for half
time with the away team protesting that she should have allowed their
goal to stand since she deemed it fit to allow the free kick to be
taken.
However, FC Ifeanyiubah players did not return to pitch for
the second half in time and that delayed the game from getting back
underway.
When the game finally got back underway, Ajayi then sent
off an official of FC Ifeanyiubah from the technical area for dissent
over his protest for a booking to Valentine Nwabili.
FC
Ifeanyiubah players then refused to continue with the game with the hour
mark approaching leaving Ajayi with the option of calling off the game.
The NPFL opening day continues this Sunday with nine matches including the live game on SuperSport 9 between 3SC and Lobi Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan
By GEORGE AKPAYEN