WINNERS OF DR. RAFIU OLADIPO BEST SUPPORTERS AWARD

Irked by the spate of violence at Globacom Premier League venues across the country, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, decided to see what he could do to stem the ugly picture being painted by such incidents.

To this end, Ladipo, who is the President General, Nigeria Football and other sports Supporters Club decided to set up a Committee comprising Sports Journalists and some of his club’s members . The body was christened: “Dr. Rafiu Oladipo Best Clubs Supporters Award Committee.”

The Committee was saddled with the responsibility of visiting match venues weekly, with a view to assessing the behaviour of fans and supporters before, during and after matches.

The Committee however could not commence operations until the 17th Week due to some logistics arrangements. Un-noticed at match venues these men carried out their duties diligently throughout the season under review.

And at the end of Week 35, the DR. RAFIU LADIPO BEST SUPPORTERS COMMITTEE came up with the following points based on points scored by clubs in both away and home engagements.

In Weeks 17, 18, and 19 before the break, Lagos-based NPA FC grossed 45 points against Rangers FC’s 38, Wikki Tourists FC’s 36, and Olumo Rocks dwellers, Gateway FC of Abeokuta’s 33 points, to come first. In the four weeks of August, Confederation Cup runners-up Dolphins of Port Harcourt chalked up 54 points to top the chart of the Committee’s assessments.

This was enough for the Garden City boys teeming followers to at least toast to at the end of the season. Dolphins were followed by El Kanemi of Maiduguri with 51 points. Double champions Enyimba FC of Aba scored 50 points to come third, while NPA FC wobbled to the 4th position with 48 points – 4 points higher that what fetched them the first position in the Committee’s first assessment.

This was according to Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, initiator and sole financier of the anti-soccer violence project, could be due to the awareness of the committee’s presence at match venues.

After the committee’s assessments of clubs’ supporters behaviour during the month of September, 2005 the cheers leaders of Lafia-based Nasarawa United FC sang and drummed to the top with 69 points.

Lobi Stars of Makurdi came 2nd with 56 points.While Kwara United FC of Ilorin earned 52 points to place third, Rangers could only shovel-up 51 points to occupy the 4th position.

Though rocked by the shocker of their loss to Enyimba FC of Aba at the FA Cup Final, the followers of the Makurdi team refused to be forced to place wrong feet on the dancing floor.

Their sweet supportive melody accompanied by rollicking and waist wriggling female dancers feverishly cheered their team even in the face of not-too-impressive results. These peaceful activities bolted the Stars to the top with 105 points.

The points returned Lobi Stars as the highest scorers on the committee’s card. Hot on their heels were the Peoples Elephants, Enyimba of Aba with 96 points. Third, were Nasarawa United FC of Lafia, while Ibadan Shooting Stars made do with the 4th position from 81 points.