Kunle Adelabu
-Remaining team’s matches to be played away
-Coach pleads for leniency
Ikorodu Divisional Football Association (IDFA) has banned the popular Ultimate Villa FC Coach/Manager, Ogunbunmi Wahab Abolore for the rest of the season after he was found guilty of gross misconduct.
Also banned is the club’s goalkeeper, Jimoh Ayodeji, while the club has also been directed to play all their remaining home matches away from home.
Coach Abolore and his club’s goalkeeper were alleged to have attacked the Centre Referee, Alagbe Azeez, in their home match against Kareem FC of Imota played at the Police Ground Field in Ikorodu and ended 1 – 1 apiece.
THE IMPACT exclusively acquired the report of the Disciplinary Committee chaired by Alhaji (Prince) Jimoh Ogunmuyiwa who is Premiership League Match Commissioner.
Speaking with THE IMPACT on the disciplinary action taken against Coach Abolore, Alhaji Luqman Shonibare, Chairman, IDFA, said that the disciplinary action was taken in order to maintain discipline among teams participating in the league and sent warning to others to either behave or face the penalty.
He also added that to develop the game, all forms of violence, indiscipline and other unbecoming acts must be discouraged.
According to the report gathered, the matter was extensively discussed by members of the Disciplinary Committee- Hon Jimoh. A.Ogunmuyiwa, Mr Saheed.T.Ayeni, Coach Taiwo Oloyede, Mr Hassan David and Chief Yisa Orelesi.
At the hearing was also the IDFA Chairman, Alhaji Lukman Sonibare and the trio of Coach Ibiyemi Alegunleye, Coach Tunde Olomo and Coach Garba Isiaka who are eye witnesses.
In the committee’s pronouncement after the hearing, the allegations were tagged to be a gross misconduct and a threat to life.
The Committee, at the end of its meeting, issued the following punishments:
“That Coach/Manager in question, Mr Ogunbunmi Abolore of Ultimate Villa Football Academy, Ikorodu, should be banned from taking part in the remaining football league matches for the year 2021.
“That Ultimate Villa Football Academy home matches for the rest of the 2021 league season should be taking to another venue.
“That Mr Ogunbunmi Abolore should be made to replace damaged materials of the referee i.e wristwatch, whistle and and also pay his medical bills, all amounting to #23,000.
“That the goalkeeper of Ultimate Villa Football Academy, Jimoh Ayodeji ,who was equally indicted, should be banned from the rest of the league matches for 2021.
“That Mr Ogunbunmi Abolore must write a strong letter of apology of GOOD CONDUCT to the chairman of IDFA, after serving his punishment.
The Committee also directed that the Centre Referee who is the complainant and the Match Commissioner should also be sanctioned by the Referees’ Society.
It was further gathered the Society will look into the way Referee Alagbe handled the match and his utterances towards the indicted Coach Abolore, while the Match Commissioner was alleged to have left his duty post and was metres away doing other things when the incident occurred.
“Moreso, the center referee, Mr Alagbe Azeez, must be sanctioned”, the Disciplinary Committee ruled.
“That the match commissioner for the league match must equally be sanctioned”.
Finally, the chairman said that the report of the Disciplinary Committee must be forwarded to the State Football Association, so as to serve as a deterrent to other Coaches, Referees and Players as well.
Mr Hassan Olasunkanmi David, Chairman, Ikorodu Football Referees’ Society, speaking with our reporter before the sitting of the committee, said that any act that will bring the game into disrepute must be frowned at.
He charged the IDFA to look into the matter critically.
“Football is a game that has been used to unify people and not to cause violence, hence, we need to frown at any form of violence or abnormality that will bring the game into disrepute.
“Beating of referee by any coach or team official amount to bringing the beautiful game of football to disrepute disrepute and I trust the IDFA to do justice to the issue.
“From our side, we have formally directed our grievances to the Football Association and I know that whatever decision that will be taking against the person in question will help in putting a stop to such act from any team official henceforth”.
Meanwhile, the suspended coach, Ogunbunmi Wahab Abolore, the Manager, Ultimate Villa FC & Academy, speaking with THE IMPACT at the weekend, accepted his guilt and apologised for his conduct.
While stating that he has learnt his lesson, he pleaded with the IDFA to reconsider his ban and that of his goalkeeper and the team for reduction.
“Truly, the IDFA made a statement and passed a verdict that I should be banned from the 2021 league season and secondly, that my team should be taken away from their home fixtures to another venue and also that I should write a letter of apology for good conduct.
“I see this as a good development on the part of the Disciplinary committee and the IDFA in general and at the same time, I want to tender this appeal and apology for my conduct and they should temper justice with mercy”, he pleaded.
“Instead of the whole league season ban, I should be given like two or three matches ban and due to security reasons in our society, I also appeal that my team’s ban from our home ground for a season should be reduced to a match or two. I cannot guarantee the security of the team and coaching crew away from home”.
He said that he has written a letter of apology requested of him to the IDFA, while also stating that he has made personal effort to meet with the Ikorodu Football Referees’ Society to tender an apology and seek for their understanding.
“As directed, I have written a letter of apology to the IDFA Disciplinary committee and also pleaded on behalf of my player (goalkeeper) that they should please be lenient with him for the sake of his career”, Coach Abolore again pleaded.
“I have also reached out to the Ikorodu Referees’ Society through its Chairman and also other stakeholders in the Referees’ Society to express my apology and emphasized to them that my conduct towards one of them should not be seen as an attack on the society at large.
“I called the society’s chairman today (Saturday) that I will not be able to meet with them again as requested due to my schedule and that I will find another time soon to appear before the society to personally apologise and seek for their understanding”.
He enjoined other coaching colleagues to always control their emotions and temperament while also advising players to desist from interfering whenever their coach is having issue with any match official.
Abolore also charged the Referees’ Society to ensure that their best hands are always deployed for matches.
“I want to appeal to other colleagues in coaching to always control their emotions before, during and after matches and to players, they should not interfere in officiating and administration of a game.
“To our Referees’ Society, I want a situation where the society will deem it fit to give us experienced referees despite the fact that we are trying to develop them. We must also consider the damage done to any team affected by poor officiating. We need to find a solution to this and l expect the society’s chairman to give us good referees for all matched”, he said.
