By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Following what is viewed as “gross dereliction of duty and mismanagement” that led to the recent imposition of fine and banishment of Dakkada Football Club of Uyo, its management
The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youth and Sports, announced the suspension on Thursday in a statement signed by the Director of Sports, Elder Ifiok Duff and made available to sports journalists in Uyo, the state capital.
It would be recalled that the League Management Company (LMC), handlers of Nigeria Professional Football, recently imposed fine on Dakkada FC and banished the club to Benin City in view of the ensued incident during match-day four encounter against Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne last Sunday in Uyo.
The State Ministry of Youth and Sports consequently, frowned at the unprofessional manner the club management handled the match protocols before, during and after that NPFL match day four play.
According to the release, “The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youth and Sports and indeed the football community was taken aback by the media frenzy that accompanied the manhandling of a match official by an Assistant Coach of Dakkada FC”.
“The people of Akwa Ibom State have zero tolerance for indiscipline and barbarism, acts that cast opprobrium on the image of sports in the state,” it added.
Continuing, the release reads, “In as much as we regret the heavy punishment on Dakkada Football Club, we hope that the LMC will be consistent in this regard no matter whose ox is gored, aimed at not only sanitizing the league but serving as a deterrent for future occurrences.”
The Ministry however, apologized to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), League Management Company (LMC), the affected match official as well as the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) and indeed the generality of the Nigerian football community for the condemnable occurrence which it noted, was not in the State’s character as witnessed by the arrest and detention of the perpetrator of the heinous act, Mr. Sunday Etefia.
Meanwhile, the following officials have been drafted in to help run the Club in the interim. They are; Coach Windy Abasiakan, Coach Daniel Japhet, Mr. Etido Inyang and Comrade Edidiong Stephen.
For the Technical Crew are, Coach Danlami, Nsikak Pius (Masseur), Akan Jumbo (Kit Manager), Ukeme Afangideh (Physiotherapy), Ubong Daniel (Curator) and Uduak Lawrence (Academy Coach).
