In a post-match interview following the 1-0 defeat of Life Station by Real Tony Tex in the Island All Stars Club Above 45 tournament, Okechukwu Alaigbo, a member of the Live Station team, shared his thoughts on the controversial match.
“We are not satisfied,” Alaigbo stated emphatically, explaining that his team felt aggrieved by the inclusion of certain players from the opposing side.
“The players they added were not seeded… One of their defenders, Aleze by name, wasn’t on the list but they added him.” He emphasized that the tournament is meant for players above 45 who are not currently active in football.
When asked about the implications of having active players involved, Alaigbo clarified, “This football that was played is supposed to be for people that were not active, that have not been playing active football…
That guy is an active player. He was not supposed to play, but they added him.” He noted that while some players on the opposing team were indeed regular club members, they had not been participating actively in training.
“It was a surprise to us,” he continued, describing how they were caught off guard when the players were introduced. “We tried our best, but we couldn’t stop it, which is not good.”
Alaigbo expressed that the active players’ participation was a significant factor in the match’s outcome. “That was what gave them the victory,” he said, adding, “Yes, we were robbed.”
Looking ahead, he called for stricter regulations in future tournaments, stating, “I would advise next time, next year’s tournament like this, they should do it strictly above 45 and non-active players.”
Okechukwu Aliagbo’s thoughts underline the ongoing concerns regarding player eligibility in recreational leagues and the importance of maintaining fairness in competition.
