Heartland FC of Owerri has described the attack unleashed on the team last Sunday by supporters of the home side, Sunshine Stars of Akure, during the Week 33 Premier league game as a blight on the fledgling Nigeria football league.
The ‘Naze Millionaires’ Director of Media, Cajetan Nkwopara, stated that Heartland players and coaches came under direct attack while on the field of play by missile throwing supporters of Sunshine, leading to injuries on one player, Omo Johnson, and one coach, Bob Acholonu, as well as creating distraction which enabled the host to equalize the game in added time.
“It was absurd to see metal weapon being hurled on a player who was celebrating his wonderful assist that gave his side a goal and a lead three minutes before regulation time,” he stated.
“Omo was not aware of the flying objects. He was busy on the pitch celebrating with his colleagues when a metal objet hit his left rib and he immediately fell down and temporarily lost consciousness. “We thank God for the timely intervention of the medical team which rushed in and took him out in an ambulance where he was later resuscitated.
“Also, coach Acholonu was hit in the head and fell down but was treated and recovered by the sideline. As a result, our entire technical crew and substitute bench were evacuated from the bench area which became the target of the missile hurls and had to complete the game standing by the pitch panel behind the goal post area.
“What baffles is that the action of the Sunshine supporters was not provoked in any way by anybody order than the inability to endure a home defeat. But that action did not only blight on our league, it also impugns greatly on the cordial relationship that had hitherto existed between the two clubs,” he said.
He recalled that last season, Sunshine defeated Heartland 3-0 in Owerri and the home fans never molested anybody rather, they applauded the performance of the Akure side.
“This was the main reason we are surprised at the hostile behaviour of Sunshine supporters in Akure on Sunday. For many times in the game, the referee had to stop the game as a result of objects being thrown on our team by the home supporters,” Nkwopara explained.
“Before the game started, some of these trouble-shooting supporters went and embedded themselves in the field area within the perimeter fence but the referee spotted this out on time and requested that all unauthorized persons should leave the area but these supporters (who by the way, must be well known faces to the authorities at the Akure Township Stadium), resisted the instruction as security tried to dislodge them, leading to about nine minutes delay before kick-off.
“From that moment onward, they continue to boo every decision of the referee and also threw objects onto the pitch even when most of the calls went in favour of Sunshine.
“Unfortunately for them as their team could not score after 84th minute and realizing that the game was heading for a draw, they began pelting stones and other objects on Heartland players and bench and the referee had to stop the game.
“After game resumed and Heartland scored, hell was then let loose as there began massive hurling of missiles against our team leading to the injury suffered by two members of our team.
“These die-hard supporters drove away the video camera team from the elevation or platform where they were covering the match in an attempt to prevent their actions from being recorded as well as beat up some neutral supporters and fans at the VIP area and other covered terraces who disagreed with their unruly behaviour.
“Obviously, it was under this very hostile environment that the referee who must have sensed greater danger ahead allowed the game to continue and Sunshine to equalize ‘anyhow anyhow’,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Heartland have given attacker, Omo Johnson a two-day off to see his family and reassure them that he was okay after the incident in Akure.
The Edo state-born player’s request to see his family was quickly granted by Coach Ramson Madu as team traveled back home to Owerri through the Owo-Benin Road in Edo State.
“There is nothing to fear about his health condition at all. Omo has been certified okay by the medical team but we understand that letting the player see his family members who live near-by after the incident in Akure, could be a good psychological boost,” said the Director of Media, Cajetan Nkwopara.