Dolphins supporters recount ordeal in Jos

Trouble started at the end of the first half which ended goaless.

A section of the Plateau United supporters rushed into the pitch as soon as the half time whistle sounded, querying  the Plateau Coach, Ndubuisi Nduka on why his side failed to score in the first stanza, even raining slaps on him before he scampered to the safety of the few policemen in the stadium.

When the fans saw they had failed in their bid to deal with their own coach, they turned on the Dolphins Supporters club, physically assaulting them and inflicting bodily injuries on them.

The start of the second half was delayed by about twenty five minutes as the police were not able to clear the pitch in time for the game to restart.

Dolphins fans lucky to be alive

Chairman of the Dolphin Supporters club, Cyprian Egwurugwu told nigeriasports.com just after the game that he was lucky to be alive and without injuries.

He said most of his members were not so lucky as they could not escape the mob that descended on them immediately the first half ended.

“This is unbelievable. In all my life as a supporter of this club I have never seen a situation as gory as this. We could have easily been killed but for the grace of God.” 

“Can you imagine I had to jump over from the high terrace I was sitting over to the back of the stadium at the risk of breaking all my limbs, just to stay alive?”

He told nigeriasports.com that the trouble started when supporters of Plateau United ordered them to stop playing their drums at the half time break, and when they stopped playing they were asked to leave the stadium.

“Most of my boys ended up with broken heads, lost mobile phones, and money.”

At least seven of the supporters were rushed to a near by clinic and treated, one of them even requiring stitches on his head.

Dolphins Team Manager in coma

The Team Manager of the away side, Diepreye Fiberesima was also caught in the cross fire as he was given the beating of his life and also rushed to a nearby clinic when he passed out and was feared dead.

When he came to and was retuned to his Hotel room at Hotel Mononia, the team manager recounted his ordeal to nigeriasports.com.

“It was after we scored in the 87th minute and the Jos fans invaded the pitch for the second time. I was sitting at the VIP stand, just next to the match Commissioner when two young men holding whips came in to our section pointing at the match Commissioner, Jemila and speaking in Hausa.”

“I quickly advised her to go and get the police since we feared she could be the target, and as son as she left these two boys, called four others who rushed at me, first asking me to give them my handset.”

He said it was when he refused that they all rushed at him, hitting him with objects he could not identify.

He reminisced that the last thing he remembered was a sharp pain to his heart before he passed out.

Dolphins want NFA to act fast

Dolphin have since filed a protest to the NFA pro league department asking for Plateau United to be banished from the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos, and for the FA to give them three points and three goals.

Club Secretary, Fatai Olayinka’s opinion is that Dolphins scored a goal in the 87th minute off a corners kick and the referee pointed at the center and had the ball placed at the center for more than 20m minutes, while the pitch for overflowing with irate Plateau United fans calling for the head of every one in sight.

“After more than twenty minutes of the ball being at the center, when the mobile police finally cleared the pitch, the ball was returned to a goal kick. The referee, M. A. Jegede has to explain what happened there.”

“Besides, if we have to invoke the rules and regulations concerning the game, if there is a pitch invasion that lasts more than twenty minutes, the side who’s fans caused the invasion lose three point and three goals.”

Rivers State Government reacts

The Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Allwell Onyesoh has already condemned in strong terms, the attack of the Dolphins Team Manager and members of the supporters club.

“The same thing happened in Jos last year during the FA Cup and we would not take it lightly this time. If the NFA do not want Southern teams to play the league we can as well break out and start our own Southern Conference.”