Babalola Oluwatomiwa
Social Member
The Association of Premier League club chairmen and Managers (Club Owners) have sympathised with the management and players of Giwa FC, who were robbed at gun point on Monday evening.
The incident, which happen along Enugu-Okigwe- Umuahia express way is the second case this season; Kano Pillars being the first as five of their players suffered gun shot wounds from the robbery.
The Jos outfit were on their way to honour the week 21 Glo premier League encounter with Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, when they were ambushed by Armed robbers along the way, who carted away money, phones and other gadgets belonging to the players and official on board the Club's Bus.
The association described the incident as shocking and unfortunate, considering how a similar incident affected another NPFL side and defending champions Kano pillars during the first round of the League, just as the Association expressed joy that no occupant of the vehicle suffered any physical attack or sustained injuries.
According to the media officer of the club, Sammy Adesoji, said the incident occurred around 9pm on that fateful day , a situation which has prompted the Club Owners to once again re-echo it's call on Clubs to shun night travels and ensure that safety measures are applied in the organisation of their travel arrangements for matches.
The Association in a statement jointly signed by the Acting chairman Barr. Isaac Danladi and the Ag. Secretary Alloy Chukwuemeka reiterated it's commitment as a body to ensure that the safety of the players and officials are giving a topmost priority, by working closely with the various clubs management as well as the LMC to ensure that players and officials are provided with the needed insurance coverage.
The club owners disclosed that with such reoccuring situation, they are negotiating with some of the airline operators to have a subsidized flight arrangements to airlift clubs to long distance venues, just as it commended some of the clubs that had already taken the bold step of airlifting their players and officials to match venues as noticed recently.