Lobi Stars Faces Fresh NPL Sanction

Makurdi-based side, Lobi Stars, could be in for fresh trouble with the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) after the rescheduled match between it and title contenders, Kano Pillars, had to be abandoned before kick off.

It is understood that the match billed to hold at the Aper Aku Stadium last Thursday could not hold after four players of Kano Pillars were attacked by a supporter of the home side, Lobi Stars, in a game that was supposed to be played behind closed door.

Naijaligue.blogspot.com understands that the attacker blew a powdery substance into the faces of Kano Pillars while alighting from their team bus in order to head into the dressing room.

Immediately pandemonium broke out with four players of the visiting side clutching their faces in anguish.

The names of the four players were given as Maurice Chigozie, Rabiu Ali, Wasiu Showemimo and Kamilu Amani by an official of Kano Pillars.

In the wake of the violent attack, the delegation of Kano Pillars had to rush the quartet to the Emmanuel Medical Centre along Dominic Oneya Road near the Modern Market side in Makurdi.

An optometrist was said to have checked out the players’ eyes for any damage and promptly discharged them after he discovered that there was no reason to panic.

Lobi Stars’ head coach, Evans Ogenyi, was angry with the way things turned out before the match while the match commissioner, Austin Mgbolu, was briefed on the incident and paid the players visit at the medical centre.

However, the NPL has received the report of the match referee and commissioner, and it is expected that the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) would sit over the matter like other cases waiting.

It is not the first that Lobi Stars’ fans have caused the side trouble this season. Ogenyi’s side has already been sanctioned in March for crowd trouble by the Premier League.

The club was sanctioned for its fans’ manhandling of the match officials in the tie against Heartland, and the side was promptly fined N1.6 million while it has been playing in closed doors since March 28.

But the security situation, which the NPL harped upon, has been breached once again after the latest attack on Kano Pillars by an unknown fan of the club last Thursday.