BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Sports Entrepreneur and former Chairman Gombe United Football Club, Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe swiftly took time to educate football stakeholders that are demanding an apology over his comments on the implications based on CAF rules on the botched Libya versus Super Eagles return leg AFCON qualifier match in Benghazi.
In his lengthy press statement made available to Journalists, Gara-Gombe expressed regret at the level of ignorance Nigeria’s football authorities had exhibited following Nigeria and Libyan National Teams debacle.
In the statement, he said, “My attention has been drawn to a report which I confirmed that some hydra-headed stakeholders were criticizing me based on my comments concerning the Super Eagles and Libya National Team. Some are even calling for my head, saying I should apologise to the authorities.
“Firstly, let me categorically say here that I owe no one an apology because I have done nothing wrong. Those to apologise are People who brought disgrace to Nigerian Sports, those who have stolen Nigeria’s resources in Sports,” he said.
Gara-Gombe in his statement insisted that he owns anybody apology in his recent comments stated that there are sports administrators in this county who should apologise for their failures and finacial scandals in the last few years in the sports sectors.
“There are people who have stolen money in Nigerian football and are representing us in FIFA, they are the ones that supposed to apologise.
Someone was also given N24 billion naira in less than one year for the AFCON, and Olympic Games and it was squandered without a medal. Did anyone ask him to apologise?.And you are asking me to apologise for exercising my fundamental human rights for expressing my personal opinion? I’m not going to do that.” he said.
The Chairman of Gombe State Athletics Association, condemned why Eagles returned home despite challenges facing in Libyan Airport.
“I will still repeat that, it is senseless for Eagles to return to Nigeria without playing the match in Libya.
According to him, Libya is not at war, football game not played at the Airport, it is played at the stadium,Irrespective of the experience Super Eagles faced at the Airport, they would have waited to here from CAF and the representative of CAF.
“I heard someone saying how would they communicate to CAF when they are locked at the Airport” If they were locked in at the Airport, was Phone signals also locked out at the Airport?
“Did the Match Commissioner also tell Nigeria he was locked too.Two weeks before Nigeria and Libya Match, the match officials and the Match Commissioner are known.
“The day you set out to play a match of that nature the authority resides the Organizers (CAF).The question I asked the Super Eagles, when they decided to return to Nigeria, did they get in touch with the Match Commissioner?
“If they were in touch with him, did he tell them the match is postponed, they can return to Nigeria?.If they were unable to get in touch with Him, Why?
Gara-Gombe queried, “How could they have traveled to a match destination, they didn’t have the numbers of CAF match officials?
“If they say they were locked in and no communication, How were they able to communicate to Nigerians via, WhatsApp, Facebook etc. all informations that came out from Libya?
“In as much as I am not defending the Libyans actions, what I’m saying is that the Libyans over reacted in their own response.Something may have triggered the Libyans to retaliate, although, they have history of being hostile to visiting teams,
“What I am saying is that there’s no smoke without fire.
I’m very surprised that those making comments on this matter including NFF officials are ingnorance of CAF rules.”
“If you take the rules guiding the civil aviation on international flight, the rules says that, any international flight coming to Nigeria must land at international airport of host county before going to a local destination.”
“This incident happened to a Moroccan team which I personally handled. Hey came on their way to Uyo, to participate in CAF organised competition two years ago.
They had a chartered flight with a choice to either land in Lagos or Port Harcourt but because the designated airport in Uyo does not have facilities to process some documents through Customs and immigration, so they landed in Port Harcourt first, they have to obey that.
“A concession was given for them to fly to Port Harcourt and later Uyo as plans have been made for customs to do the normal routine checks of stamping passports etc. So, when the Libyans came because our football authorities are ignorant in handling these issues, the Libyans felt they were treated badly for not being allowed to land in Uyo.
“If they were properly informed, it’s a different thing, but who is to inform them if not the same NFF who are to receive them, but because the Libyans don’t know, they felt it was a deliberate attempt by the NFF to frustrate them, so they also looked for a way to retaliate. That was why they also diverted by preventing Super Eagles plane from landing in Benghazi International Airport as retaliatory measure.
He insisted that, “there is no CAF rule anywhere that says you must return to your country if harshly treated by your host county.”
“By this experience alone, Nigeria has ridiculed its political institutions because everyone was talking, NFF, Minister of foreign affairs, Sports Minister, even the Nigeria’s President was talking through his media aides, NASS issued a statement which was unnecessary, who does that?
“The 20 points footage of how Eagles suffered in Libya was a total embarrassment.This was the most senseless behaviour I ever witnessed. You know that this matter may go to arbitration, why expose your defenses before time, no secrets anywhere.If you want to protest, write a protest and wait for the Organizers (CAF) to decide.
“Morocco and Algeria had problem recently, where the Moroccan team were detained inside the stadium.They were not allowed to come out, the King of Morocco didn’t say anything, even their sports and foreign affairs ministers didn’t talk, The only man that handled the matter was the Moroccan Football Chairman,”he said.
Gara-Gombe in his statement admitted that Libya is an hostile to Nigeria but regretted how NFF officials handled the matters.
“Who didn’t know that Libya is a hostile nation to Nigeria, they don’t like us. Politically, in the last ten years, we have been blaming Libya for the insecurity in Northern Nigeria. We accuse Libya for allegedly selling arms to terrorists in Nigeria and they took note of that, therefore, any single thing about Nigeria, irritates them and usually takes it seriously. If they have any opportunity to deal with Nigeria, they do without looking back”
He also noted that migrants from Nigeria are dumped in Libya, so there are political issues to be considered.
According to him, the NFF allowed super Eagles captain to announce the boycott of the match, where does that power came from? A player, it was not his job. A captain’s job should be in the dressing room and on the field of play.
“Again I heard one fellow say Gara Gombe is attacking Super Eagles because no player from the North is playing in the national team. Can you imagine how stupid some people can be? On this matter, I have said my own, I can’t apologise to anyone.We would be making the greatest mistake if Nigeria think CAF will award Nigeria three points and three goals. The best they will do is to insist the match between Nigeria vs Libya be played in Benghazi and may fine Nigeria for abandoning the match.”
“CAF are not fools, they will listen to Nigeria and Libya, the noise Nigeria made so far does not matter, ” Gara-Gombe concluded
