Armed Marauders shoot Dolphins player

A player with the club who begged to remain anonymous told nigeriasports.com that the problem started about three weeks ago when the management of the team began negotiations of  sign on fees with new and returning players.

“These area boys kept on bringing players, most of whom we cannot tell if they can really play. They then force these boys on the management, insisting that they be signed, sometimes even pegging an amount as sign on fees for their candidates.”

Apparently, one of these factions had their request turned down, leading to the invasion of the camp.

“I was in my office when I heard gun shots and as I looked out the window, I saw five of them, all carrying police rifles.” An official of the club told nigeriasports.com.

“They were just shooting randomly and shouting that the club is trying their patience and that their boys must be signed. Apparently one of the new players itching to join the team was shot in the back and is in the hospital now, while another girl who came to visit a friend at the camp also got a bullet in the waist.”

The club might be forced to sign on at least sixty players in a bid to satisfy all interested parties even though only 35 can be registered for the season.

“Well, we will just have to sign on all of them and waste the money because all they are interested in is bringing these boys, collecting the sign on fee and sharing it with them. There is nothing we can do since our lives are equally in danger, its better we let peace reign,” a club official said.

Off to Eket

All players of the club left to Eket on Monday morning for a two-week closed camping at the behest of the State Commissioner for Sports, Allwell Onyessoh who approved the trip before he left for Tunisia a week earlier.

The idea is to keep the players off the dangers of gun totting faction leaders in Port Harcourt who may not hesitate to invade the camp once again if their players are not signed by the clubs’ management.

“My brother, there is nothing we can do but send the boys to Eket for their two week pre season training. That is the only way they can concentrate. Aside that, these boys will continue to threaten the boys, disrupt our training sessions, and who knows they might shoot another player.”  A club official said

However, this measure may not help matters as last season armed youth from Port Harcourt traveled to Calabar, a town three and half hours from Port Harcourt to hold the boys hostage before a crucial FA Cup game.

The team manager had to part with the sum of fifty thousand naira, (about $350), the demand of the area boys before the players were released from the Hotel where they were held hostage

Lose pre season games.

Over the weekend, Dolphins played two trial matches, beating Akuegbu United 3-1 in Owerri and then then they lost 3-1 to Bayelsa United in Yenagoa.

They had earlier lost 2-1 to amateur side Michelin of Port Harcourt a fortnight ago.

The team Manager of the Club, Diepreye Fiberesima told nigeriasports.com that these loses only go to show that the club is not prepared for the season and the boys and coaching crew must sit up if they must achieve their ambitions of getting a continental slot at the end of the season.

The 2004 football season kicks off on the 21st of February.