Gateway gets self outside home

Irked by the unholy acts of the Abeokuta team’s followers at the MKO Abiola Stadium, which led to the encounter being stalemated, the Organizing and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Football League-NFL, could not, but let the hammer of justice go landing on the heads of the gate-keepers of the Gateway FC.

Off to Katsina, they have been banished; besides, the team has been fined a whooping N1m.  They are also to pay N,3m to the visiting Sharks side from Port Harcourt for the damage on their video camera.  The visitors and match officials, nigeriasports.com informs, had to abandon proceedings to run into safety, from where they were held hostage by the angry home fans until the Police came to their rescue at about 7.30pm.

Based on the officials’ reports sent to Abuja and Sharks’ protest letter, the NFL – organizers of the Nigerian Premier League, also awarded three points and three goals to the Rivers State team.  In the ill-tempered encounter, nigeriasports.com reports, Sharks’ irrepressible attacking goal-mongering Charles Omokaro paced on a loose ball and rammed it past Gateway’s goal-tender for their goal in the 45th minute. 

But a few minutes later, ageless ‘gangling’ Yekini ‘Rashly’ pounced on the ball and powered home the equalizer for the home boys in the 51st minute.  That was all; or rather the home fans thought.  They became agitated; and soon, degenerated to acts considered by NFL, as “not good in the interest of the game.”

So, the Abeokuta-based team, will have to play their next three home matches in the Premier League in Katsina, which is far, far away from their traditional home on the foot of Olumo Rock.  The State’s Sports Commissioner, Bukola Olopade we gathered, has since accepted the verdict in the good spirit of the game.