Daily Independent Online.
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Tuesday, June 22, 2004.
Police arrest Mighty Jets boss over
stadium violence
Onoja Audu,
Special
Correspondent,
Jos
The Chairman of
Mighty Jets Football Club of Jos, Mallam Suleiman Kwande and twelve other
principal members of the Club have been arrested by the State Police Command
following wanton destruction of properties at Rwang Pam - Jos Township
Stadium on Sunday evening by notorious club fans who were protesting the 1-1
draw with visiting Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin.
Speaking on the
arrest of Club key officials to newsmen in Jos on Monday afternoon, the State
Commissioner of Police ,Mr. Innocent Iluzoke said his command took that action
in order to compel the Jets’ management to fish out the fans that took
laws into their hands to burn the office of the State Football Association and
properties of the State Sports Council. He also added that after full
investigation into the matter, his command will seek the position of the State
Football body, before charging the suspects to Court.
Meanwhile,
following the bloody encounter at Jos Township stadium on Sunday, the Coach of
Mighty Jet Football Club of Jos, Ben Duamlong has tendered his resignation
letter on to the State Acting
Chairman of Sports Council, Mr. Noel Othniel, stating that he took that action
to protect his integrity as a seasoned and well trained Coach.
According to the letter by the former
handler, he had before now told the management of the team that he was no
longer ready to continue to coach a team whose supporters and fans do not
respect the rules of football and that he has no regret for leaving the Club to
protect his hard earned name in the Football circle.
It would be
recalled that Plateau Football Referee Council had in May protested
the molestation and threat to lives and properties of the referees in
the state to NFA over the behaviour of Jets fans towards referees at the
Stadium whenever a football match with
other clubs did not favour them.
When Daily
Independent visited Jos Stadium on Monday Sports Council
was a ghost of itself as the Council Chairman, Mr. Gukas said he was
still yet to recover from the shock over the mayhem that took place at the
stadium on Sunday, saying he would only speak on the ugly incident to sports
writers as soon as inventory of the properties lost to the hoodlums were
properly taken.
Efforts made to
speak to the State FA Chairman, Mr. Manock proved abortive as he was said to
have kept away from Jos Stadium environment for security reasons.
