Monday, 21 March 2016

Abia Warriors debunk Ochuba red card rumours

The Management of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia has condemned in strong terms reports making their rounds in the media that one of their star players, Henry Ochuba, has been red-carded in this year’s Nigeria Professional Football League.


In a statement, the General Coordinator of the team, Hon Godson Eluwa said the report is not only misleading but also mischievous as Ochuba has never been issued with a red card in the seven-week-old campaign.

According to Hon Eluwa, Ochuba, has started two games for Abia Warriors this season against El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in Umuahia and against Heartland FC in Owerri while coming in as a substitute against Ikorodu United in Lagos and was an unused substitute against Enugu Rangers International in Umuahia.

The mid-fielder, according to him, was not fielded in the home match against Kano Pillars in Owerri and Plateau United in Jos.

Hon. Eluwa revealed that of all the four matches Ochuba featured for Abia Warriors, he only received one yellow card, against El-Kanemi Warriors in Umuahia and wondered where the red card saga is coming from.

“May be Henry is being mistaken for El-Kanemi’s Aghoha Utakho who was sent off by the Centre Referee Ogabor Joseph Odey in the first half of their match with Abia Warriors in Umuahia. Henry was yellow-carded in the 28th minute in the match while Utakho was sent off in the 33rd minute, may be some newsmen may have mistaken Henry for Utakho”, Hon. Eluwa further clarified.

The Abia Warriors General Coordinator said the report has constituted a serious embarrassment to the player and the club and wished newsmen could cross check their facts from the appropriate quarters before dishing them out to the public for consumption especially as the league Management Company, has not stated anywhere that Ochuba was sent off in any match this season.

Hon. Eluwa said Abia Warriors has only received one red card this season when their captain Austin Obaraokpo was sent off in the away match with Plateau United in Jos.

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