NNL: Security Operatives foil attempted attack on referees as DMD FC vs Road Safety ends in stalemate News

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NNL: Security Operatives foil attempted attack on referees as DMD FC vs Road Safety ends in stalemate

By Daily sports on March 7, 2021

Security operatives on Saturday foiled an attempted attack on officials handling the Week 5 game between Road Safety FC of Abuja and DMD FC of Maiduguri.

The group A2 Nigeria National League (NNL) match, played at the Area 3 football pitch, Abuja, witnessed few scoring chances from both sides as DMD FC succeeded in forcing the home team to a barren draw.

Towards the end of the game, curses and threats against the officials emanated from Road Safety’s bench alongside fans outside the pitch.

As the center referee, Jeremiah Akure, blew the final whistle, officers of the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps made their way into the pitch to guarded Akure and his colleagues from a few Road Safety players who attempted to attack them.

With the officials now safe, an unhappy Akande Onigbinde, coach of Road Safety FC, said the situation was borne out of frustration.

“The officiating was not good enough. Everybody (other teams) now think that Abuja is a place where you can come and do as you please.

“The referees are killing the game. It seems it’s all about money and power.

“When you take the pains to train hard, together with the funds the management is putting in, and you have someone destroying your effort, it is painful.

“I have spoken to the players to calm their nerves and we are looking forward to our next game,” Onigbinde said.

On his part, Balarabe Musa-Mohammed, coach of DMD FC, said the officiating was fair.

“The officiating was fair enough. We even thought that the centre referee was favouring the home side.

“We didn’t expect what we saw at the end of the game. The home team didn’t behave well,” he said.

Shehu Kagara, the match commissioner from Niger state, lauded the security operatives for their prompt response.

“The referee is a former Nigeria Professional Football League referee. The home team thought that they could win at all costs but this is impossible and they tried to torment the referee but all thanks to the security operatives available,” Kagara added.

DMD FC now has seven points from four matches while Road Safety has five points, also from four matches.

Elsewhere, the NNL Match Day Four between Kogi United FC and Yobe Desert Stars ended 1-0 in favour of the visiting team from Yobe State.

The match, played at Lokoja Confluence Stadium on Saturday, saw United dominate most part of the game but fell short of ideas to convert their chances.

A last gasp stoppage time screamer from Funom Paul, earned Yobe Desert Stars a surprising 1-0 win.

Yobe Desert Stars will also need their goalkeeper, Isa Danladi, to thank as he was instrumental in their victory denying United on more than one occasion.

The giant shot stopper denied Ismail Yusuf’s shot from the edge of the box and Isah Haruna’s rebound went off target.

The visitors could have taken a lead in the first half when United defender, Moses Kayode, made a bad clearance but Paul failed to take advantage of that mistake.

Abdulwahab Jubril also had an opportunity to put Kogi United in front after receiving a pass from Abubakar Danlami but saw his effort agonizingly off the target.

Idris Nuhu of Yobe threatened United’s defense with a series of long throws but the hosts dealt with them.

The first half ended all square as both sides retired to the dugout.

The second half was more of a one-sided affair as Kogi United were all over the field in search of the needed breakthrough, unfortunately, Danladi was at his best yet again to deny them.

And just as they match was expected to end in a stalemate, Yobe Deserts Stars hurt United with a last minute goal from Paul Funom, who outwitted both Stephen Musa and Kayode before volleying past Salisu Ogbe.

United tried to stage a late comeback through Jubril, Tanko and Omajagu but their efforts could not work to ensure they lost at home.

United will next be on the road to Gusau on Wednesday where they are expected to take on FC Zamfara, while Yobe will host ABS FC. (NAN)

Meanwhile, FC Nilayo of Abeokuta held Rovers FC of Calabar to a goalless draw at the UJ Esuene Stadium.

Both teams missed a couple of chances that could have been converted with the 23 minutes miss by FC Nilayo being the most glaring, forcing an impressive double save by the Rovers goalkeeper, Isa Ismaila.

FC Nilayo continued to trouble the defence line of the home team and scored in the 27th minutes but it was ruled out for an infringement.

Head Coach of Nilayo FC, Mr Sunday Olusoji, told NAN after the match in Calabar that both teams gave a good account of themselves.

“I am impressed with the performance of my boys as they played to instructions today. I know there is still room for improvement.

“The officiating was not bad. My only query is on our goal that was disallowed. I still don’t understand why that goal was disallowed,” he said.

In his remarks, Coach Samson Unuanel, Technical Adviser of Rovers FC, said that although his boys did their best, they would go back and carry out some readjustments.

“We went away last week and picked a point and a team came here today and picked a point, it is painful because a victory would have lifted us on the table.

“Notwithstanding, the league is still very young, we are still in week four, we will continue to work hard.

“However, I need to also use this opportunity to comment on the excessive delay tactics employed by opponents which did not allow the flow of the game.

“This aspect must be corrected in the game because it is unnecessary time wasting,” Unanel said.

NAN reports that Rovers FC will play away to Nnewi United FC at the Rogenny Stadium, Oba, in the week five of the NNL, while FC Nilayo will take on Giant Brillars FC at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta. (NAN)

•PHOTO: Battle-ready security operatives

Source Daily sports

Posted March 7, 2021