Coach of Globacom Premier League club, Dolphins filled, Stanley Eguma has said his players fear they may be attacked by terrorists on their way for a league tie in Maiduguri.
Dolphins face hosts El Kanemi on Wednesday in continuation of the Nigeria league.
Eguma said that after reading of the incident that occurred on the Maiduguri road on Sunday, both the players and coaches are now too scared to travel.
“We heard of the incident regarding a commuter bus attacked by Boko Haram and everyone in the bus was beheaded and slaughtered. It was in the news,” he said.
“It’s a big risk to travel. The team is afraid and we really do not know what to do in this situation.
“We tried to reach the League Management Company (LMC) chairman, but he is out of the country and we have tried to reach Shehu Dikko, who is part of the company but nothing forthcoming from all that.
“We are scared to travel and may not go if we do not find the place or route safe for that kind of journey.”
Dolphins General Manager, Dumbo Awanen, said they may now be forced to stay away from the game.
Dolphins have been in Gombe for a week and stayed back for the Maiduguri game but with the recent spate of killings around Maiduguri, Awanen said they are not willing to put their lives on the line.
“Do we take the risk and go on that road? What is three points compared to the lives of thirty of us?” he asked rhetorically.
“We are ready for the game but will not play it except certain conditions are met.”
Awanen, who also played for the club in the 90s, said he had been in constant touch with members of the LMC who run the league but has got no positive feedback from them.
“If we do not hear anything positive from them by Tuesday afternoon we will return to Port Harcourt and forfeit the three points and three goals since it is not worth the lives we have in our team.”
According to Awanen, they could have asked for Joint Task Force, JTF to escort them into the town but realised that the army have come under severe attack from Boko Haram so it may even be courting for trouble if they go that route.
“We are now asking that the game be played in a safe place, either Bauchi or Gombe. We will not lead ourselves to be slaughtered like pigs because of three points.”
On Saturday night over 40 students of the University of Agriculture in Yobe State were shot dead as they slept, while eight travellers were beheaded by the same terrorists along Maiduguri road.
