Special Report: Fate of football in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists
– El-kanemi warriors moved their home games from Maiduguri
– Players wish they can go back to play at home
– Terrorism forced the team to play away to stay safe
– New season commences this month and hoping they can leave Katsina
I met a man some years ago in Abuja, believe me I have no idea what name he is called but people in the football family myself inclusive call him ‘warriors”, an ex- official of the El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri.
The team is no longer playing league matches in the town. This development has made their esteemed followers to miss out live actions during home matches.
As it seem peace is gradually getting back to the town – players and officials want to go back home. Home they say is where the heart is.
“We want to play at home, we would like play at home, we really want to go back, right now we are hoping to play at home and waiting for the LMC to approve our grant to play there,” Captain of the team, Michael George told naij.com sports.
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El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri
Maiduguri
Maiduguri is the capital city of Borno state, a town where the Boko Haram sect has dominated fearfully and powerfully.
El-Kanemi Warriors is one of the many football clubs in the state, some are not playing in the leagues, inside the state are private football academies and other mini leagues and of course like any other town – young children even adults will gather to play football either by betting or for fun.
Boko Haram on the other hand have been terrorising the state, killing scores, in no time which made the state a no-go-area for many people, some were displaced and scattered all over the nation while some fled for their lives.
Recently, the federal government have come out to say that these group have been technically defeated.
The continuous bombing however, made the LMC move the foremost football team in the state – El-Kanemi Warriors out to safety, to avoid any terrorism attack.
Neutral land
It is no longer news that the team have been playing their home matches at the Katsina stadium due to the uprising of the insurgents who have been bombing, kidnapping and killing Nigerians especially in the town.
When the players chose El-Kanemi Warriors, they never knew they will have to spend two days on the road – dangerous Nigerian roads to get to match venues. The terrorists have reduced the players to ‘normadic footballers’ right in their own country.
They are not aware that, their lives will be threatened for doing what they love to do and also for signing for their choice club.
“Katsina has affected the team because we have to travel 10hrs from Maiduguri to Katsina to play home matches and we spend like two days journey and players get fatigued and it is not easy,” Michael George explained further.
Playing in another state have been detrimental to the team, they no longer get to see their home teams jeered them up whenever they are playing and also the encouragement and praises from fans which helps the team is no longer there.
It is a morale killer for the players. It is not easy but they had to make do and cope.
Despite all these hardship, the team managed to avoid relegation and continue their sojourn in the elite league. They are currently having their pre-season training camp in Katsina.
“We are doing our pre-season in Katsina and as I am talking now we are already in Katsina preparing for the league season which will commence in two weeks time,” the newly appointed coach of the team, Ladan Bosso told Naij.com sports.
Data on reported deaths by Boko Haram. Source: University of Sussex
Home fans
El-Kanemi warriors is a team that has a huge followership in the Premier league and the fans are at the mercy of the terrorists as they don’t get to see their favourite team play live.
A cable channel broadcasts the league matches every week and it is a possibility that almost all the fans will not be able to access the matches live.
However, if they want to go and watch the games at pay-centres, it might be a possibility as it is typical of football the pay-centers to show only foreign league matches like the EPL, La Liga, etc.
Unfortunately, they might not be seeing their team play as the fate lies with the LMC to decide if the team will be allowed to play home matches in Maiduguri.
“There is a proposal by the state government assuring the LMC of security on ground but we are waiting on them, to decide for us, as we really wish to go back home and play in Maiduguri,” Ladan Bosso told Naij.com sports.
New management
The club has appointed a premier league veteran coach, Ladan Bosso who coached Abia Warriors last season. Bosso who is currently in camp with the players also prayed they get the grant to go back to Maiduguri to play their home matches.
With the zeal to deliver and impress his new employers, also in a bid to prepare for the new league season, the team have started camping in Katsina and the coach is excited to be there.
“Of course I am so happy to be here, everyone is happy to see me and I am ready to work with the team and we hope to get so far in the league, lets see how it goes. We are in Katsina,” Bosso said
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Players decision
The players said they want to go back to their home ground and play there. They are tired of traveling all over the place.
“I am not afraid we have been playing there for long and the town is not that bad, it is okay, people have been going in and out of Maiduguri you understand.
“And inside the Maiduguri town that we play our matches are safe and now we are in Katsina for pre-season we are not in Maiduguri,” George Michael said.
“We dont want to take chances so we start our pre-season so if the LMC approves we will go back if not we will be there, Bosso said.
The League Management Company (LMC) that administers the league has given the club an order to submit a guarantee to them explaining if they are ready to play home games in Maiduguri;
COO of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar told naij.com sports: “They wrote a letter to us that they want to go back, we have had a meeting with them since then and we show them our concern.
“And we want them to bring number of guarantee to us and they have gone back to get it done and till everything to be in pace. We gave them options of playing either in Kaduna or Gombe so we are waiting for them to know by next tomorrow.
The fate lies in the hands of the state government to better convince the LMC with assurance they will deliver an authentic guarantee before the wishes are granted.
This report was put together by Aderonke bello, an associate editor and the head of sports desk at naij.com.
Her Twitter handle is @Aderonkew
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