The management of El Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri has re-appealed to League Management Company (LMC) to reconsider its decision to suspend their home matches in Maiduguri by returning the team to his base in Bornu.
The Bornu Army has been playing its home matches at the Karkanda Stadium, Katsina for two years due to the security situation in Maiduguri.
In a letter signed by the team’s secretary, Tahiru Bala, the club said Maiduguri is now safe to host matches, claiming that the money spent to prosecute matches in Katsina is taking a toll on the team.
The statement read in part: “I am directed to once again write and appeal to your esteem office to reconsider your decision to suspend our home matches in Maiduguri by returning us to our base in Bornu State capital.
“Two years have passed and we endured playing away from Maiduguri with lots of difficulties. While we appreciate your interest in safeguarding our collective security interest by your action, we want to draw your attention to the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the war against the insurgents whose activities were the reasons behind our suspension.
“Today Grade A matches are played in Maiduguri, with an example of full capacity stadium in our friendly match against Wikki Tourists of Bauchi last year, and the recent Shehu of Borno Cup final this year which saw a tumultuous crowd of spectators with the Shehu of Bornu in attendance. All these are testimonies to the peace enjoyed in Maiduguri, the state capital.”
It added: “I want to also inform you that our team, El Kanemi Warriors is running the league on a very expensive position because of the away from home factor, for instance we left Makurdi last Thursday to Katsina instead of going to Maiduguri for our home match. And in Katsina, we spent four nights for our match against Enyimba which cost us N1,000,000 for accommodation and N320,000 for feeding minus officials’ accommodation and allowance and match expenses.”
The letter read further: “It is sad to also inform you that even the Katsina State Stadium management, Karkanda has opted to increase their stadium charges on us by N100,000 per match and failure to meet up their pay will close the gates of the stadium because of pressure from the revenue task force and consultant of the state.
“It is due to the above factors coupled with the peace that has returned to Maiduguri that we are saying we can no longer stand the unfair punishments from your side and our host thus forcing us to say we are opting to withdraw from the league if Maiduguri will not host our next home match which is after the MFM encounter in Lagos. By this position I am directed to convey to you our position which is, we are only playing our match against Ifeanyi Ubah in Maiduguri not Katsina.”
