Wikki blast Gombe Utd: You are economical with truth

The management of Wikki Tourists of Bauchi has denied Gombe United’s statement about claims of attack on their fans during Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.  The Big Elephants defeated Savannah Scorpions 3-1 in the match.   

The Wikki Tourists Media Officer, Nasiru Kobi in a release made available to Sportinglens.blogspot.com, said Gombe United’s statement was not the true reflection of what happened on Sunday.

The message reads in part: “The statement by the Management of Gombe United through its Media Officer regarding Wikki Tourist FC vs Gombe United FC match day 8 clash in Bauchi is to say the least, because it was not a true reflection of what happened.

“To begin with, Wikki Tourists supporters are one of the best in the country for the simple fact that the club this season had played three home draws and no single incidence was recorded. As a matter of fact, visiting teams are always supported because we believe in good game, this is because, the management of the team has taken the issue of hooliganism seriously and has always condemned it, therefore, the management organised a sensitisation seminar for its supporters before the league started on the need to be orderly before, during and after matches. With this in mind, supporters of Wikki Tourists could not have attacked their visitors as claimed in the statement.

“Wikki Tourists were leading by 3-1 which even common sense can tell anyone that it’s illogical to disrupt the game. How can a winner fight? Certainly a winner does not fight!  What actually happened was that Gombe United supporters in their thinking were not satisfied with the officiating and decided to encroach into the field and attacked the match officials so that Wikki can be blamed for that, and when they insisted and were about to overpower the security because of their large number, the security had to use the last option for protection and self defence and fired a tear gas to disperse them which did not in any way affects the conduct of the game because it was concluded and the players of the two teams prayed together after the final  whistle.

“This is the first time in the history of any match involving Bauchi and Gombe match that a large number of Gombe supporters came to Bauchi to watch a match, unknowing to us that there was a motive behind it.  Also during the first half of the game, supporters of Gombe United were visibly seen at the dressing room of their club and threatened the players for not playing well.

“Gombe United should take their defeat in good faith and focus on their next match. There is no need for attempting to attract cheap sympathy because you lost a match. At this point, I want to honestly advise the management of Gombe United to borrow a leaf from Wikki Tourists FC by organising seminar for their supporters on the do's and don’ts during league matches. Thanks and God bless.”