Conspiracy Against Plateau Utd Uncovered, As Al-Akhdar Gets MKO Abiola Stadium Management Nod To Train On Monday

Conspiracy Against Plateau Utd Uncovered, As Al-Akhdar Gets MKO Abiola Stadium Management Nod To Train On Monday

Ibraheem Lateef Ayodele

There appears to be an alleged conspiracy by MKO Abiola Stadium facility management and some persons to frustrate Plateau United from qualifying to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. 

As Plateau United round up their preparations for Wednesday's Confederation Cup 1st leg play-off game with Al-Akhdar of Libya, the Nigerian Professional League runners-up have been denied access to train at the MKO Abiola Stadium but could only warm up at Training Pitch 1 which is in a sorry state owing to years of poor maintenance. 

It was shocking to see on Monday evening that Al-Akhdar was given the luxury to train on the newly refurbished MKO Abiola Stadium Training Pitch 2 by the Stadium Management.

Recall a 47-man Libyan contingent had been in Abuja, since last weekend to perfect their plans with their agents. 

Photos taken from the Al-Akhdar team practice session revealed that they trained on training Pitch 2 for more than an hour and will have the luxury to do so again at the MKO Abiola Stadium Main Bowl on Tuesday evening.

Our source in the Plateau United camp confirmed the development and said: "This is so disheartening as there's a conspiracy against us. 

"Just look at the pictures of the Training Pitch 1 we have been using for our practice sessions and compared to that taken on Al-Akhdar in Training Pitch 2, is enough to allege that claim.

" Some persons don't want Plateau United to qualify for the group stage of the Confederation Cup by using the MKO Abiola Stadium management to frustrate us.

"It's like Al-Akhdar got this luxury by paying few doa dollar peanuts to a few greedy Nigerians to have their way. Like happened to Rivers United in Casablanca, Morocco, where the lights at the stadium went off during their practice session.

" Our critics would say we are not serious but the training rules for the visiting team are there for us to see. As stipulated by CAF, Al-Akhdar can only have access to training 24 hours to matchday at the MKO Abiola Stadium Main Bowl. So if there is no conspiracy, why were they having a practice session on Monday when the game is on Wednesday, and why at the refurbished Training Pitch 2.

"Th's same incident played out against Esperance in the Champions League final round after Plateau United were denied access to training inside the Stade Olympique Rades but we were only allowed to familiarise ourselves with the environment in the stadium.

" At the end, we got knocked out via a questionable penalty given to them. We are sharing out these pictures for Nigerians and the world to see, the injustice has been melted at Plateau United since the campaign on the continent started.

"We are trusting our team, as they will act professionally by doing their best come Wednesday."