Football fans from within and outside Akwa Ibom state who wish to keep abreast of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matches involving Akwa United and Dakkada have been charged to henceforward do so through other channels but keep away from the Godswill Akpabio stadium where the remaining home matches of the two sides will be played.
Akwa Ibom state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sir Monday Uko, gave the charge, Thursday, via a statement made available to newsmen in Uyo.
Mr. Uko who is also the chairman of the state Sports Council directed that all home matches of both Akwa United and Dakkada be played behind closed doors from now on.
He said the move was part of the total compliance of the State Government with subsisting WHO/PTF/NCDC protocol to curb the spread of Covid-19 which was recently reiterated by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the League Management Company (LMC).
It may be recalled that the NFF and LMC, through a recent circular to all twenty NPFL clubs, frowned at the flouting of Covid-19 protocol through the unmindful admission of fans into stadia during matches across the country and pledged a range of sanctions on defaulting clubs including the deduction of three points and three goals.
In light of the consequences of such sanctions, the commissioner appeals to fans of both Akwa United and Dakkada to demonstrate their love and support for both clubs by complying with the directive and staying away from the stadium.
The statement indicates that officers and men of the various security outfits in the state will be deployed to the stadium on match days to enforce the restriction order while the Akwa Ibom state Football Association has been entreated to ensure strict compliance.
While promising to review the embargo regularly, Mr. Uko also enjoined fans to continue channeling their love and support for both clubs through other media including remembering them in their prayers.
With fifty points from twenty-seven matches, Akwa United, who sit atop the NPFL standings, will play hosts to Adamawa United on Saturday, June 19 while Dakkada, who are ranked twelfth with thirty-six points, face Rangers on Sunday, June 20.
The two matches, which are matchday twenty-eight fixtures of the NPFL, will be played behind closed doors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
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