Gateway FC of Abeokuta on Sunday in Ilorin, Kwara State refused to enter the pitch to play its Nigeria National League (NNL) day 14 match against Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC over what it tagged security lapses.
After the mandatory 30 minutes wait at the Kwara Stadium Complex, venue of the match, the centre referee, Hamza Garba, from Kano sounded his whistle to confirm a walkover for the Ilorin-based side.
Walkover rules stipulate that the team, whose players were on the pitch for the entire 30 minutes before the centre referee sounded his whistle, (ABS Ilorin FC), gets three points.
ABS coach Henry Makinwa told newsmen after the game that the outcome of the match was a dream come true for him.
“I’m delighted we won the game as stipulated by the rules. I don’t know why they (Gateway United FC) refused to play.
“They were right there in the stadium but what the justifiable reason was for not playing is beyond me and beyond reasoning.
“If security is their reason, I think they got it wrong. There were enough policemen present, about 50 to 60 of them; so, why should they not play?
“At worst, they could have played under protest; as it is right now, I can say congratulations to my team for making it possible for us to get promoted into the Nigeria Professional Football League,” Makinwa said.
Both teams were tied on 21-points but the Abeokuta-based team had superior goal advantage of plus six over ABS Ilorin’s plus five.
No Gateway FC official was ready to comment on the match’s outcome as at the time of filing this report.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive committee member and Chairman, Referees Appointment Committee, Ahmed Fresh and SWAN President, Honour Sirawo were among spectators at the venue to watch the match.
