The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos chapter, has described the defence by Remo Stars FC of Sagamu on the assault of a sports journalist as an unfortunate sad commentary on the attitude of the club towards the safety and security of participants and the growth of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The League Management Company (LMC) last Tuesday, in a summary jurisdiction, found Remo Stars guilty for allowing several acts of violence by its supporters against its visitors, including Sportsville Nigeria reporter, Ekerete Kelvin McKidd who was manhandled and suffered both physical, material and emotional damages during their match day 16 home game with Wikki Tourists FC.
Remo Stars admitted guilt in all other charges but denied responsibility towards the journalist on the claims that “Kelvin Ekerette was neither accredited as a Journalist for the game nor seated at the media tribune for easy identification like other over 15 Journalists that covered the match.”
The Chairman of Lagos SWAN, Fred Edoreh, in reaction, has described the defence as a shameful after-thought and an affront on sports journalism unbecoming of any true stakeholder in football.
“For the good of the game, true stakeholders abhor and condemn soccer violence and it behooves every club management to protect all persons admitted into their stadiums, without exception, be they spectators, visiting players and officials and journalists,” Edoreh said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is yet no universal accreditation for admission of sports journalists as various clubs clear reporters to the games in different ways. In this case, Ekerete presented his SWAN and media organisation’s identification card at the entrance, diligently also put a call to the Media Officer of Remo Stars, Oladimeji Oshode who answered the call, confirmed to the gate attendant and cleared him for admission. Many of the “other over 15 journalists” referred to, especially visitors from Lagos, confirm and are available to testify that they were also accredited in similar manner.
“Even before the game, Ekerete had interacted with Remo Stars Media Officer to furnish him with the team list which the later, in recognition of his status as a covering journalist, forwarded directly to his Whatsapp account. Furthermore, Ekerete was seated at the Press Tribune and directly in front of Remo Stars Media Officer for the whole of the first half.
“At the break, he went with Wikki Tourists Media Officer to the VVIP section to confirm an interview booking with Wikki’s chairman, Mr. Matori who was seated by Remo Stars proprietor, Kunle Soname. These persons can also available to testify. After confirming the interview booking, he stepped out of the VVIP to see that there were acts of violence against the visitors on the tracks. He decided, standing in front of the VVIP, to take shots of the incident. After taking the shots, he went down to the railings by the lower terrace to signal his cameraman to join him upstairs for the interview with Wikki’s chairman. It was at point that the Remo supporters confronted him, saying they were told he took recordings of the incident of violence and demanded for his devices before they started beating him.
“We have reasons with evidence to believe that those who manhandled the journalist were directed by highly placed officials of the club who saw him taking the shots in front of the VVIP and described him to the thugs among whom are persons identifiable as possibly close pals, aides, guards or hangers on of such high placed officials of the club.
“Considering these provable facts with sufficient material, documented and statistical evidence and witnesses against the flimsy defence by Remo Stars, several questions arise: How and why was Ekerete admitted into the stadium if he was not cleared as a journalist and did not present a ticket? Is Remo saying therefore that it does not man its gate efficiently? Why was Ekerete not expelled but allowed to seat in the press tribune among other journalists and in front of the media officer if he was not recognized as a journalist? Why was he not expelled from the stadium if he had no admission? Why did Remo Media Officer send Ekerete the team list on Whatsapp if he did not recognise him as a journalist? Is Remo Stars suggesting that its supporters are at liberty to visit violence, for whatever reason, on persons at their games? How well does that promote the league and promote the good of the game?
“While we view the attack on Ekerete and the shameful defence by Remo Stars as an affront against all sports journalists covering the league and, indeed, the entire Nigeria sports media fraternity, the issue for us is not the compensation the LMC has charged Remo Stars to pay to Ekerete but the bigger imperative of reining in the irresponsibility of those who have shamelessly chosen the villainy of incubating thuggery and funding violence to destroy the beautiful game while still claiming to be stakeholders.
“At this time, we urge all sports journalists covering the league to hold and stand together against any form of violence in our game as it is an ill wind that blows no one no good.
“At this time that the LMC is doing so much to shore up the image, appeal and value of our league, we humbly advice the management of Remo Stars to choose to be part of positive ideals, to cultivate their club to produce the essential values of promoting sporting entertainment, friendship and unity, generating employment and enterprise for its local economy by promoting sports tourism while driving for the commercial success of the club, rather than encouraging and defending violence in sports.”
