Players and officials of Rangers Football Club of Enugu were on Sunday attacked after a goalless draw by fans of the host team, Plateau United FC.
It was gathered a player, Daniel Onyia, was injured on the head by one of the big stones thrown by fans who laid an ambush for the team along Zaria Road in front of Jos International Stadium as they made their way back to their hotel after a goalless draw in a match day 11, NPFL fixture.
The Toyota Coaster bus conveying the players also had four of its side windshields shattered with some other players getting hit by the large pebbles thrown by the fans.
Fans started showing resentment as soon as the referee blew the final whistle to end the match.
“As the players and official buses made to leave the stadium, there were loud bangs on the bodies of the buses as the drivers made a quick dash towards the exit gate.
“On its way to where the team was lodged after making a turn at the Farringada round-about, the fans that laid an ambush in front of the stadium, pelted the players’ bus with large stones with one of them catching the young midfielder on the face and beside the left eye.
“The bus had to make an emergency stop at the Alherri area near St. Murumba College, Jos, where the team medical personnel administered treatment on the injured player,” an official told The NATION.
It was gathered that Plateau State Football Association chairman, Suleiman Yahaya Kwande and other officials of the football house visited the scene to assess the situation and commiserated with the team over the attack.
In a swift response to the attack, the management of Rangers International FC led by Barr. Amobi Ezeaku, submitted a strong petition to the league organisers over the incident.
The petition cited the inability of Plateau United to provide adequate security before, during and especially, after the match for the visiting team as the major reason for the violent incident that brought bodily harm and psychological trauma to players and officials of Rangers.
The petition also noted that the attack negates the true spirit of what the game of football preaches thereby bringing the game to disrepute.
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The club called for immediate sanction to be meted out to Plateau United to serve as a deterrent to other clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
A statement from the General Manager of the Club, Amobi Ezeaku to the fans described the attack as unwarranted.
He said: We wish to inform you of the unfortunate incident that occurred during our match against Plateau United in Jos.
“The attack on our team is unwarranted and we are taking all necessary steps to ensure that Justice is done.”
The League Management and that of Plateau United have yet to make any public statement on the incident.
