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Tag Wikki Tourists2019/2020 NPFL

  • Mar, Sun, 2020
Sport

NPFL: Plateau United stun hosts Wikki Tourists as home fans disrupt game

NPFL
By Huseyn Abubakar Mbar
Bauchi, March 8 , 2020 (NAN) Plateau United Football Club of Jos on Sunday beat hosts Wikki Tourists FC 1-0 in Bauchi in a Nigeria Professional Football  League (NPFL) Match Day 23 fixture.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match played at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium saw several players getting booked.

The match had started with centre referee Imam Malik giving a yellow card to Hassan Abubakar of the home team for delaying the kick-off of the encounter.

In the 39th minute, the match was disrupted when the stadium was thrown into a state of pandemonium as some Wikki fans threw stones and sachet water at fans of the visiting team.

The match was then suspended for over 10 minutes as Plateau United fans rushed towards the stadium exit for safety but were blocked by security personnel.

Sunday Anthony had scored the match’s lone goal in the 34th minute, leading to an agitation by some fans of the home side.

However, in a post-match interview, the Technical Adviser of Wikki Tourists, Usman Abdallah, said even though his players lost the game but he still considered it a gallant loss.

“It is unfortunate that we lost the three points and it is our hope to recover the loss.

“We would have been in the seventh position now if we had won, but it is saddening for both the players and technical crew that we lost.

“However, we hope to amend this in our next match in Ilorin,” he said.

Commenting on the pandemonium that almost disrupted the match, Abdallah stated: “We will enlighten our fans and supporters against football hooliganism.

“We can not afford a situation where the game’s ruling body will either ban us from playing here or ban our supporters from watching our home matches.’’

Abdallah however expressed reservations about the game’s officiating, claiming that his opposite number was equally unhappy with the match officials.

“I am also not happy with the officiating aspect of the match. I and my Plateau United counterpart have earlier complained against it when we saw the choice of referees,” he stated.

Abdul Maikaba, the Technical Adviser of Plateau United, however refused to comment on the match.

“You can’t be expecting me to wait and talk to you while I and my boys as well as supporters are being pursued like rats,” he said.(NAN)
HAM/ECN/OLAL
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(Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye and Olawale Alabi)

  • Feb, Sun, 2020
Sport

NPFL: Wikki Tourists humiliate Lobi Stars 4-0

Defeat
By Huseyn Abubakar Mbar
Bauchi, Feb. 16, 2020 (NAN) Wikki Tourists Football Club of Bauchi  on Sunday humiliated visiting Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi 4-0 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in a Nigeria Professional Football  League (NPFL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Match Day 20 fixture was characterised by rough play, with many players getting booked.

Manu Garba opened scores two minutes into the game, and they increased the tally through Idris Guda in the 24th minute of play after missing several scoring chances.

In the 56th minute of play, Garba scored the match’s third goal while Guda scored the fourth goal in the 72nd minute after converting a free-kick by  Ajala Olushola.

Lobi Stars had started strongly but lost many scoring chances and their steam as the game progressed.

In a post-match interview, the Technical Adviser of Wikki Tourists, Usman Abdallah, commended the efforts of his players for winning the match.

“The match is a morale-booster for the team, though there is still a lot needed of them.

“We still have some deficit to make up as we started badly, and the team has to make up to forge further.

“You could see the fighting spirit is there and we will try to sustain it during our future home and away matches.

“We have discovered our mistakes and our best players who will salvage the team,” he pointed out.

Gbenga Ogunbote, the Chief Coach of the visiting Lobi Stars, on his part described the match as “unfortunate”.

“It was an unfortunate one. Sometimes you have careless moments in the game and you pay dearly for them, and I believe the first and second goals unsettled my players.

“We will just return home to take the positive aspects from the game and, as it is a temporary setback, we will get back.

“We will see it as a challenge, get the positives from the match and get it right,” Ogunbote said.

He described  the match’s officiating as “excellent”.(NAN)
HAM/PD/OLAL
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(Edited by Philip Dzeremo and Olawale Alabi)