The 2020/21 NNL Southern Conference Group B2 week 17 match between Holy Arrows FC and Abia Comets scheduled to hold at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Sunday 23rd May 2021 could not hold due to logistics problem.
The signs of uncertainty regarding the match started manifesting themselves during the pre-match meeting where the Enugu State F. A. Sec. Mr. Ugwu Francis reported that the home team Holy Arrows F.C. Olle had not established any contact with him and all through the pre-match meeting there was no presence of the team.
At 2.30 pm as was agreed during the pre-match, the teams and the match officials reported to the stadium.
After the warm-up and inspection protocols had been observed, the match proper could not commence at 4 pm as there was no single security personnel in the stadium as against the promise of availability of 30 policemen and 5 uniformed Stadium security made by the Enugu State F.A. Sec. Mr. Ugwu Francis during the pre-match meeting.
Worst still there was no ambulance.
The Central Referee Alaba Olaniyi and his two assistants from Lagos State referees Council waited at the sideline of course with the two teams inside the pitch till 4.45 pm yet the situation did not improve.
At about 5.15 pm when it was only 3 police personnel that had ambled into the stadium at different intervals, the Match Com. in liaison with the referees asked the two teams inside the pitch out and called it a day as according to them, the safety of the players and other stakeholders in the match was not guaranteed in the absence of security and ambulance.
This development caused the away team, Abia Comets F.C. serious financial losses.
The truth here is that the home team, Holy Arrows F.C., and the Enugu State F.A. did not work in synergy for a hitch-free match thereby ridiculing the image of the NNL.
It is expected that the NNL Secretariat in its avowed commitment to ensure strict Clubs compliance to its directives will do the needful.
It will be recalled that Holy Arrows F. C. of Olle, Delta State was banished to Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu for two home matches including the remaining 15minutes of their match with Bendel Insurance F. C. due to some acts of violence by the team in their home ground, Olle Township Stadium.
