Giwa FC Makes U-turn, Begs LMC to ‘Bend’ the Rules

Femi Solaja

Reason may have prevailed over emotion for embattled Giwa FC in its sink or float situation as regards Its continuation in the ongoing Nigerian Football Professional League after the club’s management reached out to League Management Committee (LMC) to temper justice with mercy in the mess it found itself.

Going by the rules and regulations guiding the league, the Jos club is on the brink of dismissal from the competition after missing three consecutive matches.

But last night, when it seemed that it was all over for the club, its management reached out to the LMC in what is a last attempt to starve off execution of the rule of the League.

The Jos Elephants have agreed to play their Matchday 18 game against Enyimba that was slated for Ilorin yesterday afternoon.

The club however asked that the game be rescheduled not taking into cognisance that Enyimba had already walked over them in Ilorin.

A statement from the club yesterday revealed that it still wants to remain in the league but asked the LMC to review the circumstances that led to Its recent travails.

“Giwa FC has written to inform the League Management Company (LMC) that it has accepted to play its Match day 18 with Enyimba International,” said a statement from Media Officer David King.

The club pleads that the date of the match be rescheduled to enable the team play the match, at a venue outside Ilorin.

The club promised to do its best to uphold the integrity of the league for the good of the game too.
Secretary of the Club, Samson Adamu, regretted all inconveniences caused league.

“Giwa FC of Jos also pleaded for an independent commission to be set up by LMC to look into the cases of the last two matches that were missed earlier with a view to allowing a replay based on arising conditions.
Giwa FC insists that as a law abiding club it promises to uphold the integrity of the league,” concluded the statement.

Giwa FC was banished to Ilorin after the fracas midway into Its home game against Enugu Rangers in Jos on Matchday 12.

The club has since missed two consecutive “home” games in Ilorin where it lost three points to Its opponents and three goals awarded against it.

The club has been embroiled in the political drama involving its proprietor Chris Giwa’s fight for the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Wikki Tourists and Akwa United have both walked over Giwa in Ilorin, where the Jos club were banished.
Last week, the League Management Company formally cautioned Giwa warning that it risked expulsion from the league.
The LMC referred to Rule 13.28 which states as follows,” if a club fails to honour three matches cumulatively within the league season without acceptable reason to the LMC such a club shall be expelled from the League and its matches played and unplayed shall be cancelled”.

It is now left for the league to enforce this regulation.