Much ado about Giwa FC

It is no longer news that Giwa FC stayed away from a third game last Wednesday in Ilorin against Enyimba International.
It is also already known that the rules of the Nigerian league state that any club that fails to honour three matches in a season risks expulsion from the league.
After Wikki Tourists and Akwa United walked over Giwa FC in Ilorin, where the Jos-based side was banished to following crowd trouble during a home game against Enugu Rangers, the League Management Company (LMC) formally cautioned the club it risks expulsion.
The LMC referred to Rule 13:28 which says: “If a club fails to honour three matches cumulatively within a season without acceptable reason to the LMC, such a club shall be expelled from the league and its matches, played and not played shall be cancelled.”
When it seemed that it was all over, the club reached out to the LMC in what was an attempt to stay off execution.
The Jos Elephants agreed to play its match day 18 game against Enyimba slated for Ilorin last Wednesday afternoon. However, it asked that the game be rescheduled despite Enyimba already waiting in Ilorin.
A statement from the club showed that it wants to remain in the league while asking for the LMC to review the circumstances leading to its recent travails.
“Giwa FC has written to inform the LMC that it has accepted to play its match day 18 with Enyimba Int’l,” said a statement issued by its Media Officer, David King.
“The club pleaded that the date of the match be rescheduled to enable the team play the match, but not in Ilorin.
“The club promised to do its best to uphold the integrity of the league for the good of the game, too.”
Fiwa FC expressed regret all inconveniences caused the LMC and pleaded for an independent commission to be set up by LMC to look into the cases of the last two matches missed with a view to allowing a replay.
The club is embroiled in the political drama involving its proprietor, Chris Giwa’s fight for the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
It is now left for the LMC to enforce its rules or look the other way.