Opinion: Football Robbery In Nigeria FA Cup

Opinion: Football Robbery In Nigeria FA Cup Raymond Ita Following the dramatic reinstatement of Akwa United FC into the State AITEO Cup, despite losing 1-3 to Algon Boys FC in a match that spanned two days, the Akwa Ibom state football community has been thrown into utter pandemonium. Critics and supporters alike have reacted diversely to the FA's decision to uphold an appeal by Akwa United, alleging that Algon Boys FC "fielded" an ineligible player in the initial match on Wednesday, April 24. Algon led that game 3-0 before it was abandoned with four minutes of regular time left to play, after thugs (allegedly sympathetic to Akwa United) encroached the pitch and manhandled the referees. The FA in its first decision strongly condemned the violence and ordered that the match be replayed on Friday, April 26, from where it stopped. So, on the morning of Friday, April 26, 2019, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Akwa United led 1-0 at the end of the replay, but lost 1-3 on aggregate, meaning they were dumped out of the State FA Cup and the running for the AITEO Cup (a trophy they won in 2015 and 2017). However, in a dramatic twist of fate, the FA's appeal panel ruled in favour of Akwa in the case of the lodged appeal, from which point this piece serves to explain. Many have described the ruling as a blatant daylight robbery, an injustice to amateur football and a thumbs down to Nigerian football. I chose to write this piece with no alloyed support for either side. They are both teams from Akwa Ibom state, so I will be as neutral as possible in my judgement. Here's what I think: • I think if Akwa United had won the first game, they certainly would not have pointed out to the FA that Algon Boys "fielded" an ineligible player. Akwa is a professional football club (or so we are made to believe). The club is run by seasoned administrators and quality management. They should know better. If a case like this gets to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), Akwa could be fined too or worse. • The FA was quick to pass judgement in this case "favorably", whereas the pressing issue of concern was not fully attended to. What about the thugs who invaded the pitch and beat up the referees? Have they been sorted out, apprehended and punished? Two straight cup games witnessed referees brutality and still, no word on the culprits. But when politics of football was concerned, they acted swiftly. Bad PR! • Algon Boys were barely three weeks old before the fateful date with Akwa United. Surely, they were the "rookies rookie". No one would have seen that coming. The boys gave 101% and got a deserved result, only to be dumped out in the cruelest of manner. But I think Algon Boys shot themselves in the foot. John Ekpenyong is the known face of the team (more like the coordinator). He admitted openly on radio - just minutes after the ruling - that the said player Emmanuel Imoh, is actually on the payroll of Akwa United. And he further claimed that Imoh was licensed to play in the State FA Cup for Algon Boys. Simply put, he is not registered by Akwa United for the ongoing season, but Akwa United owns him. Someone said it is more like a Kenneth Omeruo situation at Chelsea. But at least, Omeruo has been validly loaned out to several clubs since signing for Chelsea. In this case, where are the evidences or proof, that Imoh was loaned to Algon Boys? If the FA did give Algon Boys the go-ahead to register him, why didn't they do a thorough background check on him? They can't claim they didn't know Imoh belonged to Akwa United. Where are the evidences that Imoh truly belongs to Akwa United? Pay vouchers is absolutely laughable. Why didn't Akwa point this error out just before the game started? So many questions begging for answers. • There are many who believe that hierarchy of Algon Boys FC have been "called into the house" and pressured by whatever means available, to give up their spot in the semifinals and allow Akwa United, a much bigger brand, go on to stand a chance of representing the state at the national level. If this is true, then why should we cry for mother hen who broke her own eggs rather than hatch them? For "such" to happen, the entire players, officials and staff of Algon Boys FC would have to be compensated heavily (away from public eyes of course). No one would admit to this and in truth, there are no evidences that this has happened. To make matters worse, the lad didn't even feature in the match. He was on the bench. Does that justify the claims that he was "fielded"? • Algon Boys early this morning, went to the Government House, Uyo to protest, asking the governor to intervene. To me, this is rubbish! Is Governor Udom Emmanuel the FA Chairman? Please leave the governor out of this. Although I must say, the FA and Akwa United's actions, can smear the great efforts governor Udom has invited in making Akwa Ibom a center of sporting excellence. • Amateur football has been dealt a big blow courtesy of this "infamous ruling". As much as I know and understand that in this game, the rules are binding, I also know that Jungle Justice is no Justice. For all we know, the eventual ruling by the FA is a product of hours of grilling negotiations to make all parties happy. But at whose expense? Now that Akwa United has been reinstated back into the competition, they face Cofine FC in Sunday's final. What if they lose again? What other means would they phantom out to phase out deserving winners? Already, the story has gone beyond the shores of Akwa Ibom state. Every TV and radio station, national daliles and magazines, social media and homes of football lovers is awash with the story of "daylight football robbery in Akwa Ibom". There is no explanation the State FA would give to the public that would suffice. A few of us might "understand". Others just won't. And they are right not to. Akwa United as it stands, is condemned to go all the way and win the Aiteo Cup. Anything short of that would be a national disgrace and a colossal failure, considering their run to such stage. If Akwa gets knocked out in any round henceforth, they would be the mockery of Nigerian football for a very long time. They should have let Algon Boys go through and shift their focus to winning the NPFL which I still tip them to win. That is the beauty of the the game. The world over, Cup games are viewed as a befitting ground for upsets. Small teams just love knocking out the big boys. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal were seen off by smaller teams in the English Cups this season. Real Madrid were dumped out of the UCL by little Ajax. The same Ajax would see off Juventus later. Cups are made for upset. Akwa should have tasted theirs honorably. But this? Even the staunchest supporter of Akwa is disappointed. We'll watch and see how it goes though and I pray for all our sakes, it all ends well.